I did like her. She was a real character. A good laugh. She’d thought the world of my dad. He’d been a twin (the twin was killed but that’s another story! Such is my family Jannette….) and the story has it that his mum couldn’t be bothered with him and Auntie Edie stepped in and really loved him.
Thank you. I was thinking of how the lines around her lips would remind me of the forking of the edge of a pie. She was more an egg custard really. The pale, silky, wobble ❤️
Lols, I know! These days I don't see this anywhere, the older folks are so resilient! My pupil Eileen looks 15yrs younger than her 84 and quite nirmal skin + eyes, I think ppl use to age before their time somehow. It's a unique and devastating and heroic story -- for me your Aunt is the hero in her own macabre demise as she trusted and loved your cousin, and in trust and love we always open ourselves to vulnerability. So she showed high courage and integrity loving her own killer if that makes any sense? And thus for me your story is then no longer chilling and macabre but beautiful, like heavy curtains being drawn and suddenly letting sunlight stream into a silent dusty room: love is vulnerable and may pay the ultimate sacrifice yet without this fragile cobweb there is no life! Awesome share, the best 🕸
I think it’s a very tragic story. For me it just proves that there is no contract with ‘life’, that if you do ‘x’ you will get ‘y’.
Some of the loveliest people have the grisliest deaths and some of the nastiest ones die peacefully in their sleep. Stuff like that makes it hard for me to believe in a ‘god’.
I remember reading this the first time around and am surprised I didn’t comment then. You capture the naivety of youth and frailty of age well, and reveal true horror from the mundane, with a hefty base of reality. It’s like a prototype of Tiger’s Tooth in a way.
What I remember about her most is how old she always appeared to me. All those creases and lines. Like a human antique.
And as kids, my brother and I mocked that a little, as kids can sometimes do. Once we showed her a picture of a gorilla at Chester Zoo and told her it was my dad and because her eye sight was poor, she just said “oh he’s a bit dark on that one, isn’t he?” We found that hilarious.
Seems mean now, but to a seven year old it was a funny thing to do.
My grandma died shortly before my son’s birthday, but I remember him surveying her the same way I’d looked at my Great Aunt. That same fascination with old skin. And one day maybe I’ll be looked at that way too. Maybe by some, I already am😂
No? that is genuinely hilarious - and she made it that way with her response. If she’d caught you out and been upset it would have been mean. I love that you added “Chester Zoo”, makes it even funnier. I need to stop laughing or I’m going to get wrinkles 🤣
‘Liking/loving’ this feels wrong but I did click the ❤️ so you have a ‘symbol’ of my appreciation if you see what I mean. Such a sad story, but your words bring her to life and honour her :) xx
Yep. Blind devotion to someone who treats you indifferently just because society makes you believe you owe it to them has never been something I’ve felt ‘contracted’ into.
And they say families today are dysfunctional! Thing is today it’s talked about not covered up as it was back then. The emotional neglect was every bit as damaging as the physical in so many situations as I am acutely aware. Parents so wrapped up in their own issues kids were dragged up in all kinds of dysfunctional ways but it wasn’t acknowledged. As long as they were fed and clothed sufficiently, it looked like they were being cared for. Your Auntie picked up the bits as best she could it seems. Shame one of them turned on her.
Oh my goodness what a story to tell. You have done her memory proud.
Thanks.
I did like her. She was a real character. A good laugh. She’d thought the world of my dad. He’d been a twin (the twin was killed but that’s another story! Such is my family Jannette….) and the story has it that his mum couldn’t be bothered with him and Auntie Edie stepped in and really loved him.
Pie crust skin, apple heart!! 🍎❤💋 I just die for this phrase! Another smasher, Jules, fenkyou x
Thank you. I was thinking of how the lines around her lips would remind me of the forking of the edge of a pie. She was more an egg custard really. The pale, silky, wobble ❤️
Lols, I know! These days I don't see this anywhere, the older folks are so resilient! My pupil Eileen looks 15yrs younger than her 84 and quite nirmal skin + eyes, I think ppl use to age before their time somehow. It's a unique and devastating and heroic story -- for me your Aunt is the hero in her own macabre demise as she trusted and loved your cousin, and in trust and love we always open ourselves to vulnerability. So she showed high courage and integrity loving her own killer if that makes any sense? And thus for me your story is then no longer chilling and macabre but beautiful, like heavy curtains being drawn and suddenly letting sunlight stream into a silent dusty room: love is vulnerable and may pay the ultimate sacrifice yet without this fragile cobweb there is no life! Awesome share, the best 🕸
An interesting take.
I think it’s a very tragic story. For me it just proves that there is no contract with ‘life’, that if you do ‘x’ you will get ‘y’.
Some of the loveliest people have the grisliest deaths and some of the nastiest ones die peacefully in their sleep. Stuff like that makes it hard for me to believe in a ‘god’.
I remember reading this the first time around and am surprised I didn’t comment then. You capture the naivety of youth and frailty of age well, and reveal true horror from the mundane, with a hefty base of reality. It’s like a prototype of Tiger’s Tooth in a way.
What I remember about her most is how old she always appeared to me. All those creases and lines. Like a human antique.
And as kids, my brother and I mocked that a little, as kids can sometimes do. Once we showed her a picture of a gorilla at Chester Zoo and told her it was my dad and because her eye sight was poor, she just said “oh he’s a bit dark on that one, isn’t he?” We found that hilarious.
Seems mean now, but to a seven year old it was a funny thing to do.
My grandma died shortly before my son’s birthday, but I remember him surveying her the same way I’d looked at my Great Aunt. That same fascination with old skin. And one day maybe I’ll be looked at that way too. Maybe by some, I already am😂
No? that is genuinely hilarious - and she made it that way with her response. If she’d caught you out and been upset it would have been mean. I love that you added “Chester Zoo”, makes it even funnier. I need to stop laughing or I’m going to get wrinkles 🤣
You really should put all of your beautiful pieces together and make a book Julie!
This is so sad but the way you word things makes it a thing of beauty.
What a way to go, you're poor aunt! Obviously the cousin was very troubled to be able to do such a thing!
Thank you for sharing.
I honestly love your stuff and the way you describe things the way you do, like this bit,
"The under eye areas swing as puffy violet handbags".
I love that!!! 💜 xx
Aww thanks. Xx
‘Liking/loving’ this feels wrong but I did click the ❤️ so you have a ‘symbol’ of my appreciation if you see what I mean. Such a sad story, but your words bring her to life and honour her :) xx
Thanks. I look through some of the true stories on here I think “damn I knew a lot of women who were attacked/abused , don’t I?”
You don’t realise until you start writing.
I have lots of nice memories too! Hopefully that also comes through! My life isn’t just a catalogue of tragedy!
You are a survivor, that's what comes through to me x
Good heavens Julie, that’s powerful. What an awful sting in the tail. Horrendous.
I know. Its truly haunting. When I think of how she loved that girl from being born.
Yep. Blind devotion to someone who treats you indifferently just because society makes you believe you owe it to them has never been something I’ve felt ‘contracted’ into.
Good🔥💪🏼
And they say families today are dysfunctional! Thing is today it’s talked about not covered up as it was back then. The emotional neglect was every bit as damaging as the physical in so many situations as I am acutely aware. Parents so wrapped up in their own issues kids were dragged up in all kinds of dysfunctional ways but it wasn’t acknowledged. As long as they were fed and clothed sufficiently, it looked like they were being cared for. Your Auntie picked up the bits as best she could it seems. Shame one of them turned on her.
And that’s why we should never do things because we see a ‘contract’. You are ‘owed’ nothing.
There is no contract. Either do something because you want to/it’s the right thing to do, or don’t bother.
I wonder if she knew how much I did actually love her.
The way I would squirm and brace myself for those kisses😂😂
She was a tough old bird though, right to the end. I’m sure she did.
I know. My cousin doing it was the real shocker. I mean WTAF!
She got it down to manslaughter and pleaded diminished responsibility.
Didn’t end up being away for very long at all.