They buried my great aunt in her favorite Yankees shirt.
I didn’t go to the funeral because I don’t go to them anymore. My father’s memorial service was the last one and Aunt Joyce understood. She didn’t want to be there either.
But bad things happen to good people and they closed her up in a casket with a big Yankees logo on her chest and a lifetime of memories left behind.
She – like her eight brothers and sisters – was a product of a different generation.
She lived through the Great Depression and World War II.
She married another Yankees fan and raised a family.
She held steady through farm foreclosures and food lines and rationing and shortages and economic recessions and factories closing their doors.
She helped build this country and shape this society.
She survived the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War and every other war since.
She outlasted the administrations of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan and almost George W. Bush.
She loved Jimmy Carter even though he is an Atlanta Braves fan.
She loved Mickey Mantle because he was a Yankee.
And she loved Derek Jeter because he is Derek Jeter.
It was mentioned in her eulogy that her favorite trip – from her Buffalo home – was to New York City to see the Yankees play a couple of years ago.
I went to those games with her and my Uncle Gary. We watched the Yankees beat the Orioles and ate burgers at Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant.
It’s a good memory and it was the last time I saw her.
She was wearing her favorite Yankees shirt.
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8 comments:
It is too bad that your aunt did not get to read this. I bet that she would have liked it. She sounds like a great lady.
Thanks for sharing these stories. I know I have said this before but this is a very refreshing stop on my baseball blog travels everyday.
This story puts things in perspective. Thanks I needed that.
Godspeed, Aunt Joyce.
Todd brought you back to life so we could all see you at least one time. You built a great country. We need to be better stewards of the nation you left us.
We can do that by being better sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and friends and neighbors.
Thanks for the memorial, Todd.
Thanks for the nice comment, Michael.
michael o. allen,
I wrote this in an old comment but you might have missed it---I read your blog and I like it. It is nice to know you are a Yankee fan.
Just to set the record straight, Aunt Joyce also had on a Buffalo Sabers shirt along with the Yankee one.
Hey, you should let the rest of the family know about your blog. Wouldn't mind having your email address, too.
Your Uncle Scott (and Joyce's nephew)
Scott,
Thanks for stopping by the blog! The email is in the “About Me” section at the bottom of the page.
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