| Kaedy's Blog |
Building A Memorial "Wall" Beginning With My Aunt Caroline
For the past several days I've been thinking about what Memorial Day means to me. I didn't realize that it began as far back as Civil War times to remember fallen soldiers, then in 1882 grew to remember soldiers of previous wars as well. It was as late as 1971 that Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. But what makes Memorial Day even more precious is that it isn't limited to honoring Americans from the armed forces. It's also a day for personal remembrances when we honor the memory of our loved ones who have died -- a day of reflection.
I thought we might reflect together on those we have loved and lost, and that you would post your comment after this entry to honor someone who inspired you who is no longer on God's green earth. Mine just happens to be the first person I personally knew that had breast cancer.
You may remember my Aunt Caroline from Atlanta radio in the '80s and '90s. She would do her "Accu-Porch Weather Forecast" on my afternoon show every weekday for a decade. Initially, what made Aunt Caroline truly unique to the average listener is that she was a hard-of-hearing octogenarian whose father had been a New England sea captain who taught her how to read the skies for weather. She was more accurate than Glen Burns! Every day Aunt C would go out to get her mail and study the skies for me, then I'd call her and tape her "report." What became magical about her broadcasts is that she and I would chat a bit, and listeners really got to know and love her. She became quite the celebrity in her little neighborhood near Emory. When we had to help her sell her beloved home when she couldn't take care of it anymore, she was tickled to know the people that moved in were fans of hers.
Aunt Caroline was my grandfather's brother's wife's sister -- in other words, she was not a blood relative. You'd never know it. She and Uncle Arthur took my family under their wings when we moved here from New England in 1970 when I was 10. They were surrogate grandparents to my little brother and me, and I think that was almost as important to them as it was to us since they didn't have children of their own.
Aunt Caroline was fascinating! She was an artist who painted with oils and made delicate, intricate Christmas ornaments that are achingly beautiful. Uncle Arthur was a forester, so they were world travelers who even lived in Chile for a while. Aunt Caroline was physically fit her whole life -- she had been a P.E. teacher as a young woman. She was very smart -- she kept up by reading voraciously, and she loved watching the news. Boy, was she good at Trivial Pursuits! Everybody in the family always wanted her on their team because she had lived so long she knew most of the answers. Her agile, clever mind and sharp wit were still strong when she died in 2001 at the age of 103. Oh, how I miss her!
I didn't know until her years in the nursing home that Aunt Caroline was a breast cancer survivor. I was helping change her clothes one day and saw her mastectomy scars. She asked me if I had known, and I said no. Aunt Caroline was a very private person, so I didn't ask any more. That was all that we said about it -- ever. But what struck me about that moment that day (and to this day even more so) is that, in my lifetime, Aunt Caroline's breast cancer did not define her at all -- not one iota. THAT is a life well lived!
So this Monday I will reflect on the soldiers who have lost their lives for my freedom. I will think of my hero -- my Dad. I will remember my grandparents, and the wonderful aunts, uncles, and friends I have lost. But in this year of my battle with breast cancer, I will especially remember dear Aunt Caroline -- her courage, her generosity, her love of life, her grace...
I will start our Memorial wall with Aunt C's name -- please add your loved one's name below with a line about him or her, and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to do the same for this Memorial Day holiday weekend.
What others are saying
- My MomMy Mom - Sue Bramlett Bowman. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 1985. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my first child at the time. Her surgery was on November 20th - I went into labor on Nov. 29th. My firstborn, Chris, was born on 11/30/85. Sue, the proud grandmother, traveled to Athens 10 days after her cancer surgery to be her for his birth. She believed God sent that precious grandson to her to keep her going, and a lifetime bond was formed between grandmother and grandson. She lived life to the fullest, and never complained nor griped about having cancer. She was my inspiration, and my support when I was disgnosed with Stage II breast cancer in July 2001. She supported me through surgery and treatments into remission. She was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in May 2004, and passed away in June 2005. She was, is and will always be my strength and my hero. I salute you, Mom!!!!
- My GrandmotherMy Grandmother - Elsie Hembree. This woman was an inspiration to one and all. She never had an unkind word to say about anyone. Not even when her husband left her alone to raise 6 kids. She never drove, but took the bus every day to Kennestone Hospital to work. She never missed a day in 35 years. She never heard from again until he died; and then to find out he'd co-habbed with someone else and had more children. The strangest thing? When she died, we were going through some of her things that were still at my Mom's house, and in her wallet, she STILL carried a photo of that man. How's that for love?
My Grandmother had the amazing capability to make each grandchild feel like they were they only grandchild she had. She taught us love, forgiveness, and gentleness. This woman was a saint in my eyes, even if she did use a hickory on me once in a blue moon. A piece of my heart left when she did in 1987. - Memorial Day RemembrancesI remember and miss my mother-in-law most of all. Miss Tee was the most non-judgemental person I have ever knon, and I do not recall ever hearing her say anything negative about another. I miss her every day.
- My DadI miss my Dad everyday. He was and still is my hero. He taught me to love others, to love our country, work hard, the importance of a smile, and to never give up. I can still hear his laugh and see his smiling face.
- AC WallDadso - the original WLK
- Memorial Wall - Jerry CahillJerry Cahill was a friend and co-worker who died of a complicated form of leukemia on Memorial Day of 2001. He was a husband, father and a wonderful friend to many people. His battle with leukemia lasted 10 long months from initial diagnosis. We still miss him!
- My Father, My Hero, Leroy MeadowsMy father served our country in three wars. Korea, Viet Nam and in the Phillipines in WWII. He was a decorated soldier and he never once asked for recognition from this. We did not ever know why he received medals from our country until he passed away, he never was one to boast about himself, he was always more concerned about how other people fared in lfe. He was a very selfless man. He served his family as magnificently as he served his country, but I truly did not know the extent of this until he died. His generosity allows 2 police detectives to go to school each year, with a full scholarship because he worked for many years raising funds with golf tournaments to set up an account that was self-sustaining. This was just one example of the legacy that he left behind. There were many things that made my father a hero, especially to me, but the biggest one was that he was my father and the pride that I have in that is priceless. I miss him with every fiber of my being. I lost my father to a heart attack that was brought on by his battle with esophageal cancer. I now am cancer free after my recent battle and his character and his determination gave me the strength to make it through.
- My MomMy mom, Edith, the cheerleader. She could make anyone feel great!
- Gloria GriffithMy Mom. She fought cancer and survived in '96 but lost the next battle against it in '04. she'll always be missed!
- Aunt Caroline MemorialTraditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
This year, please post your flag proudly, tend to it properly, and remember all of those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedoms every American enjoys every day of their lives. - My brother WilliamRemembering the brave young men we lost in Vietnam
- Aunt Caroline Hartman1897 - 2001. She was the most interesting and interested person I've ever known.
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