Hit number 2

My aunt passed away this morning.

My Dad's youngest sister had battled stroke, seizures, hepatitis and alcoholism. She passed away about 1am from liver failure. I am not sure how much pain I am supposed to endure this year, but I can tell you I am about full up right now.

On my Dad's side of the family I have lost my grandparents, my father and now my aunt. I have an aunt and uncle left. I am fortunately very close to the aunt I have left. I have this image of an old tattered flag flapping in the wind. I feel like my family is that flag. As time passes we are losing more and more ourself. Each part is valuable and contributes to the whole. The last two months we have weathered a severe wind storm and what is left is tattered and just hanging on.

I was starting to feel better, but I feel somewhat set back by this news. I am not handling it very well. In all honesty this aunt and I had been close when I was younger, but in the last 10 years or so I had seen very little of her. I think I am just struggling with the general sense of loss. My heart aches too for my surviving aunt. She was with us in the house when my father passed and she was with my aunt last night when she passed. I think my sorrow right now pales in comparison to what my aunt must be feeling.

I don't have much to add. I am sure there will be a service and such.

Until next time...