I met Aunty Pat in Darwin in 2008. We
camped at Anny and Chris' place where we going to leave our caravan
during our trip to Holland for Maartje en Toppies wedding. Auntie Pat
is Chris' grandmother.
We came back from a trip in town and
here she was: her rollator parked next to the swimming pool, in her
swim suit under the shade sail in the pool, chatting with her
daughter Noelene (chris' mom).
Pam and I joined them, it was stinking
hot that day.
Aunty Pat is one of those people that
make you immediate feel comfortable. She is genuinely interested in
what you do, who you are and what you like. To make a long story
short: I love her.
Pam and Aunty Pat have their birthday
on the same day, 12 September. They always phone each other on that
day. This year was going to be different:
The family had organised a huge party
in Sydney for Aunty Pat's 90'th, We were going to be there too after
our return from Holland and take Pam's mom with us. But unfortunately
Aunty Pat got sick and the party had to be cancelled.
The day before her birthday she was
released from hospital and was able to celebrate her birthday with
SueAnne and Peter, another daughter and her husband, where she lives
and is taken care of.
Here she is: 90 years old, a true gem!
By the way, at her birthday 5
generations were present: Aunty Pat, the granddaughter of her grandson and
everybody in between.