What Women Want – XXXIII. A Woman Never Dies (2 of 2)
Date Posted: December 23rd, 2010
100 years and counting
My wife had an aunt, Paula, who lived in Toronto. She died
at 101!
My son, Michael, also lived in Toronto for two years. To
him therefore devolved the duty to look after his great-aunt who,
by then, had reached a great age.
Recently, I asked Michael if aunt Paula went to a Hair
Salon. He informed that she did, and actually had a standing
appointment.
At first I was surprised; why would she care about her
appearance in her late nineties? I then went back, in my memory,
to the day she celebrated her 100th birthday.
We had organized a small party for her, with a birthday cake
(but not with all the required candles!). She was nicely dressed
and she’s had her hair done.
After the actual party, she sat on the sofa and told me to
come over to see something.
On the coffee table there were a number of congratulatory
notes: From the Queen, the Prime Minister, The Premier of the
Province of Ontario, and the Mayor of Toronto (who she knew
personally). Many relatives had also send her their best wishes.
In addition to all that, there was an album which included her
family pictures.
Ignoring all the rest, she took the album in her hands, and
leafed through it carefully until she reached a page which
included two pictures: One was a professional picture of a young
man. The other showed the same young man, and next to him, stood
a much younger aunt Paula.
She had fallen in love with him a long time ago when they
both lived in Vienna. He was a journalist with a great future.
All was going well until he contracted an infectious disease and
died. She stressed that she never forgot him, even after all
these years.
I had heard this story at least twice in the past, but never
had a chance to see his picture. There was also another
important difference. Here was a woman who was celebrating her
100th birthday and could still vividly remember the Love of her
Life who had died some 80 years ago!
Does a woman ever dies?
No, never!
