Dear Aunt Mary

Lung Cancer. Bad Bad. Treatment, not so great but maybe it bought you some time. Please know that there are lots of things I didn't know about you and while they always appear in the obituary I wonder if they give the true picture of what a person's life means. Since I don't know your middle name or your birthday or place. Since I don't know when you were married or even how long you and Logan lived in that house on Alamo. I guess what I have to say goes like this.

You were always there when we visited Boise. I do remember another house in Oregon but for the most part it was the red brick house on the corner with the ever growing tree in the back yard. You always had coffee at hand or a number of other options. Never did you refuse entry to a gang of family, a wayward brother and his wife about to add a recently born child into their family, a group of family after a funeral, a college student, a teacher from a Dietrich, a law student, a visitor from Seattle.

You were always busy. Family, travel with Logan, work on lots of Charity things. You did the Cross Word, balanced the books, kept track of the important things in the world. You were a very ardent republican but those of us from the other side loved you anyway. You remembered everyone, loved to throw a party, a shower for a niece from Seattle. You were simply warm and gracious.

There were very big disappointments in your life but you "soldiered" on. You saw the big picture but could focus on the little important things. You did much for everyone but when an act of kindness came your way, you never forgot it.

You will have taken a lot with you. Lots of family stories, history, good old gossip. You have taken a big part of Logan's heart and soul and much of his memory. He is not very happy that you have left but he knew you needed to go.

We made it just in the nick of time to see you. I hope you knew we were there. I realized at the visit you were beyond our reach so we will reach out to Logan now. I dispatched Dad and Mom to visit. I think that was good.

Mary-Elizabeth cried when we left. Her visit to you was hard and maybe I should not have taken her. I thing that we have to teach the lessons that death is not a bad thing. It is not a fun thing for those that are left but it is not a bad thing when it is time.

It was time. Thank-you for waiting for us to stop by and say hello before your journey ended.