Revelations

Last month my Aunt Pete passed away after a 15 year battle with Alzheimer's.  Her passing did not shock me; I more or less nodded my head and said 'finally'.  After 15 years of suffering, I am glad that she has moved on and is now at peace.  The ceremony was very simple and small; it did not seem fitting to the larger than life woman I remember from my childhood.

Aunt Pete was my favorite great aunt on my father's side of the family.  Whenever Junior and I were visiting, Aunt Pete could always be counted on to make sure we had a good time.  I remember many summers of black berry picking, digging for worms, fishing and just walking back and forth between my grandparents and Aunt Pete's.  Between her and her husband, Uncle Arb, life was always good when we came to visit.

After the funeral, Mel and I were talking and she gave me some rather startling news.  Of our grandmother's siblings, 5 of the 9 are currently suffering from (including my grandmother) or have died from complications brought on by Alzheimer's.  Of the remaining four, one died as a child/young adult and one from cancer, long before Alzheimer's would have made it's presence known.  FIVE, that's more than 50%!  Very scary indeed!  Thanks for putting that thought into my head, Mel; it is going to stay with me for quite a while.

On a side note, no one in the family knows how Aunt Pete became Aunt Pete.  My entire life, she was always Pete; I didn't even know her last name!  Turns out I was not alone in this, Mel and myself along with our parents and cousins did not know Aunt Pete's last name.  How sad is that I ask you!?! 

PU#1 said, 'How am I supposed to know?  She has always been Pete!  It was never Mrs. So&So.  No one ever called her by her real name (Eddie Marty - don't ask), not even her sisters and brothers.  She has always been Pete'. 

So in honor of Eddie Marty Williams Key, I salute you Aunt Pete.  I will never forget you or your wonderful spark of life.