Yesterday was my mother's birthday. My thought was to write something about how much I admire and respect my amazing mom, but events are such that I feel compelled to write about another amazing woman, My Aunt Pat.
Patricia Sullivan is actually my mother's cousin, so my first cousin once removed, but she's always been Aunt Pat to me. Although she was born in Bay City, Texas (her father was working in Texas for a brief time) she (and my cousins Christine and Paula) grew up in Charlestown, Massachusetts. My family moved to Texas in 1977 for my father's work, and there is no doubt that the move was the most difficult on my mother. My mother is devoted to family, and she would happily have spent every holiday in a house filled to the rafters with relatives. To leave that behind to go 2,000 miles from everyone you know is a frightening thing. But Aunt Pat always helped my Mom feel connected.
Aunt Pat, Uncle Paul, Chris and Paula visited us several times in Texas, one of very few of our relatives who were able to make the trip down. When we visited Massachusetts (annually for my Mom and Dad, only a few times for me) they were always ready to meet us somewhere to catch up. No matter how much time had passed since the last time we had seen them, we could talk for hours about family, school, the world . . . anything and everything.
Aunt Pat was also our family historian. Mom knew very little about her heritage, but Aunt Pat took on the task of digging through old photos and newspapers, birth records and death records, researching our past. She and Christine put together family trees and shared records, photos, and information with us so we could all know more about where we had come from. Once again, Aunt Pat was our connection.
When the historical record led back to Ireland, our amazing cousins hopped on a plane and found our family's roots in Skibbereen. I don't know if they did it through research or by knocking on doors, but they found our cousins still living in Ireland. These cousins were so taken with the Sullivans that when Christine married in 2006, they flew over to Boston to celebrate with her. We were so excited to meet our Irish cousins that we planned how we would find them in the hotel by listening for their distinctive accent. We arrived at breakfast the first morning, and we had no trouble finding them as a handsome gentleman walked right up to my mom and asked, "Are you here for the Sullivan wedding?" Amazed, we told him we were indeed. He responded that my mother was the very image of his wife. Imagine cousins separated by many generations and an ocean, and the kinship still shows. A connection to family from far away, again made possible by Aunt Pat.
I am so thankful to my Aunt and cousins for everything they have given me. The weekend we spent at Christine's wedding in 2006 was one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had. My children were able to spend time with an extended family that they never knew. Aunt Pat made us all feel welcome and reminded me that even 30 years later, Massachusetts will always be a part of me . . .
Here is Aunt Pat walking Christine down the aisle.
One of my favorite pictures, here is Aunt Pat dancing a jig surrounded by family and friends.
I am thankful to them for the gift of a family history I can share with my children so they can know and be proud of their heritage.
My mother never had a sister, so having her cousin Pat in her life has been a true gift. Better than a sister, Pat has been a lifelong friend to my mother, and in so many ways, Pat has been my Mom's connection to her family, her history, and her home.
My Aunt has been very ill for a while now, and she is currently in the hospital. My mother tells me that this fight may be more than even Pat can win. My prayers are with Aunt Pat, and with Christine and Paula, that they might have the strength to deal with whatever comes. My heart breaks at the thought of losing my amazing Aunt Pat . . . I can't imagine how great the loss would be to those who were fortunate enough to be even closer to her.
We love you, Aunt Pat.
