October 12, 2020

October Twelfth

                                                       (First Christmas Together)

October twelfth was a celebratory day in our family. It wasn’t because of 1492 and Columbus sailing the ocean blue even though that meant we got out of school that day. Rather it was because three young girls welcomed their little sister Rebecca Lynn “Becky” into the world with great excitement. How we loved and adored her! Our mother wrapped her in a yellow blanket and I can remember lying next to her on our parents’ big bed and delighting in her little gurgling baby sounds. She had the blondest hair and sweetest face and a disposition to match; no one had ever dare mistreat her when her sisters were around!! The only time we saw her cry was at her birthday when we would sing Happy Birthday to her!

Becky grew into a tall willowy beauty with beautiful strawberry blonde hair. She never dealt with weight issues like the rest of the family and didn’t even go through an awkward adolescent period. That could have been easy to hate or be jealous of, but Becky was always just the light of our lives and we simply loved her.

As she grew there was always a calm about her and assurance. She seemed to know exactly what she wanted and no one or thing could stand in her way. If she wanted to remodel a house, she did it. Cut wood with a chain saw. Build a log home in Minnesota. Start a health food business and a successful direct selling business. Canoe the Boundary Waters alone every year on her birthday. Cook a gourmet meal. All done. Her dream was to walk the El Camino de Santiago in Spain on her 60th birthday. I believe she would have been able to do that, but sadly she died seven months shy of that October 12th. 

Our Becky maintained her beauty, love of life and dignity all through the last year of her life. She had suffered some disappointment in her relationships, yet she never spoke ill of those people with whom she had shared a part of her life, no matter how painful.  She adored her children Brekke and Peter and they returned that adoration with their time and love and a closeness every mother would want to have with her children.  Her crowning joy was little Luci, her granddaughter, who she got to spend two years loving and adoring visiting in California and showering love and affection upon.

As those who loved her watched her quickly slip away, we knew she was going into that place of light and love where she would be surrounded by family members who would welcome and embrace her and she could be that beautiful, healthy radiant being again in all her glory. Yet, how those of us left behind miss her! Every Columbus Day I think of that little darling wrapped in a yellow blanket, that willowy beauty standing behind the counter of Grammas Pantry and of that radiant smile and welcoming hug I received every time I saw her.

Happy 66th Birthday our Becky! Happy Birthday our dearest sister. No more tears for you. May your lovely light continue  shining  down upon us as we think of you looking down at all of your loved ones wrapped in yellow beams rather than a blanket with that beautiful smile and that ever loving spirit. We love and miss you!

                                                (Last Christmas Together)