Monday, April 29, 2024
In the summer of '65, August 1st to be exact; the youngest of my mom's siblings was born to my 'GranPa Fred" & "Nanny" (Mabel) at Morristown Memorial as it was known then. GranPa Fred one day while holding baby Darlene declared ,"Ruffles has ridges". Yes indeed her father nicknamed her after Ruffles potato chips! Darlene proudly wore the nickname 'til her last breath since the father she later missed so dearly, lovingly gave it to her. She would also answer to Belle when my dear Nanny would call her this; or Ruff, Ruffie and Sister Harris by her closest friends.
Ruffles being six when I arrived in late '71 declared to my mom and the rest of her sisters regarding me that "she has to respect me"...lol lol lol. Even at 6 she indicated how big a personality she would go on to be. She once remarked to me that "Jehovah has really tamed that mouth" of hers...lol lol lol....Jump to February of 2010 when she invited herself on my vacation to see my cousins, her nieces in Chicago...I said to her...lol...lol..."how you gonna just invite yourself on my vacation?" Ruffles replied "you love your aunt Ruff, remember you gotta respect me....let me know how much my tickets gonna be"....lol...lol. My jaw hit the ground when she showed up with a 5 pc. set of luggage...lol...lol. Darlene and I spent 24 hrs. on an Amtrak train to Chicago and it is one of the best memories of my life.
I will miss her sense of color coordinated style. I will miss telling her "I love you" and getting the reply " I know, I love me too"...lol lol lol. I will miss her love of Slave, strawberry poptarts, cranberry juice and a Longfellows #3. I will miss her being my spiritual sister and the encouragement she always gave me.
I will not miss is watching my aunt suffer due to illness. I will not miss her grieving the loved ones we've lost. I will not miss the worry she had that her dear sisters, brother, nephews, nieces and friends would not be able to handle how tired she really was...I know Jehovah through his Son heard every prayer regarding this.
What I do look forward to is being with her again in a world with "no mourning" the One who promised this is "faithful and true" (John 5:29; Rev 21:3-7 and Titus 1:2).
-Tawanne
