Investments

My aunt has been fighting cancer for over five years. The past month has been especially hard and I think her battle is definitely nearing the end. Because of this, I took a trip back to Georgia last week to see her for the last time. As she turned to see who had come to visit, she saw me and asked the simple question, "Amy, what are you doing here?".

Such a simple question, but it totally threw me off guard. I couldn't actually give her the truthful answer, so I came up with a reasonable, believable...lie. But, as I was laying in bed that night, it occurred to me that the answer to the question was much more complex. Because I had chosen to fly across country with two days notice, without recommendation from anyone else. What had prompted me to do such a thing? Why was it necessary for me to ensure that I spoke with her at least one more time?

With tears flowing and chest heaving, the answer came to me. Everyone that enters our lives makes an impact - big or small, positive or negative. But, only a few truly invest in us, really entwine themselves into the very fabric of who we are. My aunt is one of those people for me. From my earliest memories, I remember her encouraging me, teaching me and utterly delighting in me. She listened, she laughed and she never once failed to tell me how smart or clever she thought I was. I don't know that I ever went a holiday without receiving a card, pictures or small treat from her and when AC was born, she continued the tradition with her. Even to this last visit, when I sat down in front of her to feed her grapes and she looked at me and said, "Amy, you look pretty, just so very pretty".

So, what was I doing there? I know now that I had to, in some small way, let her know that her investment had not gone to waste. She mattered, the words she had said had made a difference and the love she had shown had taken root and grown within me. I had to say, "I love you" just one more time.