Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The birthday girl is 93 today


She was telling us a very juicy story. We couldn't quite get the words, because she now speaks another language entirely, but we got that what she was relating made her want to laugh, and so we listened raptly, laughing ourselves, enjoying the light in her bottle green eyes.

Happy birthday, dear Aunt Winnie. We are all here. Every single one of us is who we are today because you have been a part of our family. It is such a privilege to be able to live our lives alongside yours, to learn from you, laugh with you, be pushed to grow by you, to love you more than our hearts can even hold. I can't wait to eat cake with you and all the aunts and cousins later today. You are the true original, our matriarch, the one who didn't just point the way, but led us there. We have charted the course of our lives by your star, and that is not an overstatement. It's just truth. You never left us in darkness. You are so powerful. And thank you.


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12 comments:

  1. Oh my...Happiest Day to your Aunt Winnie!
    Angella...the new background is...so me! I love it.

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  2. The best Happy Birthday wishes, Aunt Winnie. So much to celebrate, may you all have a wonderful day. xo

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  3. What a beautiful matriarch! Bless her and thank you for sharing this woman with us, too. Her light shines brightly, even still.

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  4. Wow - I can't imagine what it must be like to live that long. Happy Birthday aunt Winnie. (I used to have one of those BTW.)

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  5. Happiest of Birthdays to your Aunt.
    And what a lovely tribute. I think you have the same eyes, no?
    Your Friend, m. who wants to live happy and healthy until 93. Join me?

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  6. Yay! Happy birthday to Auntie Winnie! And let's hear it for people born on September 7! :)

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  7. A beautiful tribute to your beloved Aunt Winnie, Angella.
    This says as much about her as it does about you and your family.
    I love the flare and optimism of your new blog environment, too ; )
    Love to you, underwater, on ground level and on top of a soaring mountain, C xo

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  8. birthday wishes to aunt winnie! what a wonderful post - so much love and beauty is found in the words and delightful photos.

    i love the new look to paddington place - it reminds me of a poem i once ran across and that now sometimes stitch on quilts for certain occasions, it goes: Families are like quilts, lives pieced together stitched with smiles and tears, colored with memories and bound by love

    aunt winnie is lucky to have such a loving niece and you all are so blessed so have such wonderful wisewomen!

    namaste!

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  9. Wow Angella!
    Happy birthday to your wonderful aunt. I wish her the very best celebration, surrounded by all of you who love her so much.
    So happy she lead the way, you are all her very best accomplishments.
    Lots of hugs.

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  10. I have come to grow very, very fond of her, your precious Aunt Winnie. And I am sending her the most heartfelt Birthday wishes. 93 is quite an accomplishment! You come from very good stock, dear Angella;)

    The "language" may now be different, but the feelings will always remain the same. She is as lucky to have you as you are to have her!!! Will your beautiful daughter be making the cake?

    Love and big hugs,
    Debbie

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