Fat and Jovel

so im sitting at my huge family reunion last saturday. it was my great aunties 50th wedding anniversary. over 80 relatives to desifer, name, parent, grandparent - all leading to the head of the family "grandma Tunnell" (my great grandmother).

with sore feet, and my "kelly! its so lovely to meet you - again. you look just like your mother! and youve grown so much since i saw you last" at its quota. i sat next to this angelic little lady who informed me that she was my "aunty peggy". married to my late uncle Jimmy, who was my grandmothers brother.

surprisingly, sitting next to this little woman was a highlight of my day. she told me about what my grandmother was like before she was married exclaiming at the top of her voice that my nana was "fat and jovel!". how "in her day" they never worried about being pregnant, with no ultra sounds, and no way to tell if the baby was ok they just "got on with it, cause every one was in the same boat, so it didnt really matter".

she told me that she had never left new zealand, having traveled around the north island, and only to the top of the south island, she was happy to explore the world though her tv, and the stories of her well traveled grandchildren. she didnt like chrocodiles, and when i told her about my jet skiing story in costa rica she screwed up her face like a mischivous child being told to eat her soggy tripe.

she ate small amounts, exclaiming that it was because she didnt move around much, and she had to watch her weight (she was tiny and thin), but didnt complain, in fact smiled secretivly when i snuck a second oyster canape onto her plate. she said that even though she was 82 she was still ok to drive, so long as she didnt have to do any right hand turns. which basically ment she could get to the supermarket and back. she told me to turn around and show off my tatoo, to her grandaughter, telling her that she though it was "very nice".

coherant, alive, interactive, and interested in everything from everyone, of every age, my dear Aunty Peggy sat on the couch, surrounded by loving family, doating over her and filling her up on tea.

sadly, 4 days later... we have just had the news that today aunty peggy died. although i know she lived right to the end. im saddened to know that yet another part of our family has left us, but pleased that she got a chance to see everyone in the same room just one more time... it must have been worth living for.

RIP aunty peggy.... you will be missed.