For Natalie

I received word yesterday that my father's first cousin was moved to hospice. She has been fighting cancer that has now moved into her colon and caused a perforation. Her sons and grandchildren and with her and giving her the care she needs.

I wrote a small piece to capture what I will remember about Natalie, because she, like all of us, deserves to be remembered.

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Natalie

In the summer, we'd see the wavy brown hair

Elegantly perched above your sun visor,

Neat wrap skirt tied

On your slim hip,

Tan, freckled shoulders

Reflecting the sunlight;

Pausing just a moment

While making the turn.

The golf spikes striking concrete

Would foreshadow your voice

As you turned to greet us,

Always smiling,

Always wanting to know the whole of everything

In five minutes or more.

In the fall, you'd arrive in all your finery,

The perfect earrings falling

Next to a perfectly framed face,

Icing-drop cookies in hand,

With stories to tell

And questions to pose.

Golden bronze-glinted fingers

Flew, here and away,

To punctuate tales of summers

And children

And deals

And gatherings gone by

And family.

AWJ

10/22/13