Today, my family and I said goodbye to a very much beloved matriarch, my great-aunt Barbara Bolton. To our clan, she will always be remembered as AB (Aunt Barbara). It's a nick name my mom, her siblings, and their cousins came up with when they were kids and it stuck through my generation.
AB was the most selfless and caring person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing; I feel extremely fortunate that she was a family member of mine. In fact, as my Grandma and I were looking through photo albums to gather pictures to display at her funeral service, it was quite difficult to find many that featured her because AB was always the one snapping shots. She just wanted everyone around her to be happy.
AB never complained about anything. I mean, she NEVER complained about anything. I don't think that our family will ever know how much pain she was experiencing at the end of her life because she never wanted to trouble anyone. My great-aunt never said an unkind thing about anyone (well, maybe Mike Scioscia when she didn't agree about a choice he made when the Angels were playing). Even then AB's response was to write a letter to the organization with suggestions on how to better the team's play.
My great-aunt loved the beach. Sea shells and lighthouses in particular. And I feel that a lighthouse represents AB perfectly. She was a guiding light to those who knew her; leading by example being her forte. If I live another 50 years, I could never reach the level of kindness and acceptance that AB exuded.
There will never be another AB. I am so lucky that I got to have her for almost 29 years. She taught me to never take things for granted and to find happiness and joy everyday. I learned to make family and friends the cornerstone of my life and to not sweat the small stuff. There's no way to convey how much I'll miss her, the way she always greeted me, "Hey Micah!"; even when she was in her final days in pain, I still got that warm greeting and loving smile. My life is better for her having been in it and that's something I'll never forget.
Much Love, AB. I'm glad you are finally at peace.
AB was the most selfless and caring person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing; I feel extremely fortunate that she was a family member of mine. In fact, as my Grandma and I were looking through photo albums to gather pictures to display at her funeral service, it was quite difficult to find many that featured her because AB was always the one snapping shots. She just wanted everyone around her to be happy.
AB never complained about anything. I mean, she NEVER complained about anything. I don't think that our family will ever know how much pain she was experiencing at the end of her life because she never wanted to trouble anyone. My great-aunt never said an unkind thing about anyone (well, maybe Mike Scioscia when she didn't agree about a choice he made when the Angels were playing). Even then AB's response was to write a letter to the organization with suggestions on how to better the team's play.
My great-aunt loved the beach. Sea shells and lighthouses in particular. And I feel that a lighthouse represents AB perfectly. She was a guiding light to those who knew her; leading by example being her forte. If I live another 50 years, I could never reach the level of kindness and acceptance that AB exuded.
There will never be another AB. I am so lucky that I got to have her for almost 29 years. She taught me to never take things for granted and to find happiness and joy everyday. I learned to make family and friends the cornerstone of my life and to not sweat the small stuff. There's no way to convey how much I'll miss her, the way she always greeted me, "Hey Micah!"; even when she was in her final days in pain, I still got that warm greeting and loving smile. My life is better for her having been in it and that's something I'll never forget.
Much Love, AB. I'm glad you are finally at peace.
