Back in June I took the family up to Manteca, CA for my dad’s retirement party. My aunt Diane was ill at the time. I believe it was in late May or early June that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to her liver, lungs, and kidneys. Just before we got up there she had just been admitted to a convalescent hospital. We visited with her twice that weekend. My sister was there with her two boys. Aunt Diane was almost her usual self. You could sense that she wasn’t feeling well and she was not in her element. She was the woman that could talk and talk and tell hilarious stories at family gatherings. She could also cook very well. During our chat in June I asked her for her menudo recipe and she gladly gave it to me. I took careful notes and have it safely kept in the home office. In the next few weeks I’ll get a batch cooking and we’ll see if I can match her style and flavor.
Looking back on our visit I knew there was a possibility of her recovering from pancreatic cancer. Since she was still talkative it seemed ok. She was on morphine for the pain and she didn’t have much of an appetite. Things were not ok however and she was getting worse. By the middle of July she had not improved and was in fact getting worse. My dad was calling me and giving me updates. On July 15th I called my dad and he said she couldn’t get out of bed anymore. This is a bad sign. By the 16th when I spoke to him again she was becoming unresponsive and we knew what was happening. Her final day was July 17th. I’ll miss my aunt tremendously. Her jovial laugh and her nicknames for everyone will live on. The suddenness of her passing makes me realize just how short our time is on earth and that we must make each moment as fun as possible. Life is a one lap race with no repeats. My aunt left us at age 64 and she filled our lives will her panache and aunt Diane style. Life isn’t fair that’s for sure but we can all get through it and have a good time while we’re here above ground.
Her rosary was on July 23rd and I flew up to the Bay Area for the services in Fremont, CA., my hometown. On Friday the 24th the family gathered at the Holy Spirit church in Fremont for the second time in less than a year. My grandpa Leo had passed away last year and the feelings from that event are still very evident. After aunt Diane’s program we headed over to the hall next to the church for lunch. Ironically this was the church that my aunt and my uncle Fred were married in 41 years ago. Looking around the place brought back memories of other family events held in the same place over the years. After the lunch we went to my cousin Bob’s house for aunt Diane’s menudo (expertly prepared by Bob according to Diane’s recipe) and conversation with local and out of town relatives. I flew home later that night and attended a lavish wedding on Saturday. My wife’s cousin was married in Somis, CA. at a very nice place surrounded by lush trees and plants and 260+ guests. The wedding was a hit. Good luck to Eric and Sarah as they start their journey together.
Life happens quickly so after the wedding we hurried home and started prepping for 7 days of vacation. Getting home around 10:30pm was rough but we managed. Early Sunday we packed quickly, loaded our trailer, and set out for Yosemite. That trip in itself will be another post.
Sitting here tonight thinking about the last 2 weeks really brings it to me clearly. Life happens whether you’re ready for it or not. My grandpa Don died in 2004. Grandma Anita in 2006 and then her husband, Grandpa Leo, in 2008. Now my aunt in 2009. The wedding, with my son as ring-bearer, and our vacation all crammed into such a short time gives me pause to slow down a second to smell the roses, drink a cup of coffee and not sweat the small stuff. Wow, my high school English teacher would have red-penned that last sentence! And that’s it, life happens.
