Photo of the Day - May 9, 2007 - Me and Aunt Evelyn

Yesterday I received some very sad news. My cousin Susan from LaGrange Georgia called to tell me that her mom, my Great-Aunt Evelyn, had died. The picture above was taken of me and Aunt Evelyn last summer, when my daughter Laurel and I visited Evelyn and her daughters and grandchildren in LaGrange Georgia on the way to Texas. Evelyn was the youngest sister of my grandmother "Nanny" (my dad's mother). I have many many pictures of Nanny on my Flickr site, and quite a few of Evelyn. Indeed, Evelyn was the last of Nanny's siblings. She hung in a long time. I had all but forgotten Aunt Evelyn until a few years ago. In fact, I had no idea she was still alive. But my siblings and I inherited a huge footlocker full of pictures from Nanny, which started me on a quest to figure out who was whom. In the process, using the internet and people search, I have managed to track down almost all of my extended family members who are still living. I took the footlocker of pictures down to LaGrange two years ago after I first found out Evelyn was still living. She helped me identify many of the people in the pictures - mostly on the "Andrews side." Aunt Evelyn was one of the sweetest and kind-spirited people I have known. It brought me great joy to rediscover her after all these years. Last time I saw her, when I left, I gave her a big hug and said "I love my Aunt Evelyn." And she said "I love my Joel." That trip last summer was the last time I was to see two dear family members - my Aunt Carolyn on my mother's side in Texas, and my Aunt Evelyn on my father's side in LaGrange. I am so glad I took the time and made the trip. I have one remaining blood aunt/uncle on either side left - my Uncle Karl in Sherman, Texas. I hope to see him this summer. Evelyn, I will miss you. Thanks for brightening my life with your sweet letters and kindness toward me these last two years.

Please feel free to explore my photostream here.

Joel