FOR MY AUNT SUE--April, 2016
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I was in my early teens when my favourite Uncle, Wes, brought, Sue, the love of his life, home to
Brockton to meet his family. Because my Grandmother was nervous, she asked me to come over
to her place and "be there" when they arrived. I remember him walking in the back door, obviously
anxious that we would approve, and , of course, we did. What was there to disapprove of in the
beautiful, polished, kind woman whose hand he held--a woman with whom he was so obviously smitten.
Later during the visit the woman who would, from then on, be my Aunt Sue, asked if I knew a place she could get her hair done. I suggested the hairdressing school downtown and she asked me to accompany her there. It soon became clear that I was not the only one impressed by this elegant lady. The young, student hairdressers treated her like a movie star (no surprise there, she looked like one!) I watched, astounded, they uncoiled her long hair, then, after washing and setting it proceeded to style it into a Hollywood-style "up-do." After that Aunt Sue requested a manicure and pedicure and a young apprentice came out with a huge palette of nail polishes. As we left, Aunt Sue asked me what I thought
and laughed when I replied, "I think we must be in some kind of movie!"
But that was what things were like when you were in the company of Aunt Sue and Uncle Wes--they lived movie star lives (at least I thought so). Who else but stars would let an awkward kid taste lobster and even, secretly, take a sip from a martini. The pictures they sent were always of exotic places where they skied or danced, or stood on beaches at sunrise. For me they embodied the life we were all supposed to live--exciting and chock full of love and romance.
And, speaking of romance, I regret that I was not able to tell Aunt Sue that my son recently became engaged (something my Uncle tried to assist him with on their last visit.) Still, in my heart I am sure that both she and my uncle "know" and are happy that the little boy they made a fort for as now found the love of his life.
I will, forever, miss my Aunt Sue :the phone chats we had, talking about Wes, the way she called me a "gal," or (as they both did) calling me "Ronnie Rebecca" or "darlin'." I hope that she knew (that she knows) how very much I loved her, just as I hope she has been reunited with my Uncle Wes.
As I said when Uncle Wes passed, if there is dancing in heaven, I know they will be dancing there,
awing the angels, and cutting one hell of a heavenly rug!
All my love, your niece, Ronnie Rebecca
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THE DANCE
For Sue Jones
Lookin' sharp, as always, he
is near the bandstand tapping his
toe to In The Mood. It's been
awhile, but, as he used to say, " She
is a woman worth waiting for..."
Her hair in a Hollywood up-
do, her full skirt crinkling as
she enters to the beat, just
as she did that first time so
long ago. Others try
to get her attention, but she
heads straight for him, takes
the hand he holds out
to her, and like Fred & Ginger,
they begin to dance
again.
A blue-eyed singer who could be
(maybe is) Frank, croons "...not
for just an hour, not for just a day, not
for just a year, but
always...) and they move
in perfect unison: dance
on and on and on
into eternity.
--Ronnie R. Brown--
