Unfortunately my family suffered another loss this week as my Aunt Nancy bravely lost her battle with cancer. Â My Aunt was a dedicated reader of this little blog and I wrote one recently just for her after Billy died to keep her spirits up. Â She said she loved that it made her laugh and loved all the stories I had to tell. Â Today, this is dedicated to the loving memory of my Aunt Nancy, a true gentle wonderful soul who I hope knew how much I loved and respected her. Â Thank you for being my Aunt. Â Thank you for loving me unconditionally and most of all….thank you for laughing at me. Â I treasure the moments we spent together, especially last month when I had the pleasure of visiting. Â You always treated me like one of your own (although I am not sure that is a good thing). Â May you find peace and be reunited with Uncle Tom up in Heaven. Â We miss you.

Because Aunt Nancy loved the stories about our crazy family, Â I decided to divulge some family secrets or things I have come to love about my family. My family is a very loud obnoxious Iowa Irish one who tend to have a roaring good time when we get together. Â The following facts are what I have come to know as truths thanks to my family:
- If one of my family asks you what kind of pop you want, they are really asking you if you want your Mountain Dew regular or diet. Â There is no other option.
- My Uncle John had a bionic big toe. Â Seriously. Â He used to chase me with it and pinch me. Â Pretty sure this is where my hatred of feet comes from. Â You would hate them too if a huge hairy big toe was used to scare you as a child. Â I shudder even now to think of the Hobbit toe.
- Don’t play hide and seek with my Uncle J. Â He will find out that you are hiding in your toy chest and sit on it to not let you out. Â This is a dangerous game to play with him…he just laughs as you try to get out. Â Now I know where my claustrophobia comes from….thanks so much.
- My Grandma used to tell us to go get our own switch when we were bad. Â She would also say that it better not break over your butt when she beat you with it. Â If you bring her an entire tree branch, she will never ask you to do this again. Â I brought her an entire branch once and she was trying so hard not to laugh that she just sent me away. Â Also…pretty sure none of us ever got hit with those switches.
- Always test the softness of the snow banks. Â Do not trust that the snow is soft before you throw your child into it. Â My Dad made this mistake with me once and the snow was hard packed, knocking the wind out of me and making me cry once I got my air back. Â It also caused an asthma attack. Â He might have gotten beaten with the tree branch for that by Grandma.
- Sometimes you forget who your cousins are. Â No…really. Â I once saw my cousin I hadn’t seen in forever and didn’t hug him because I didn’t recognize him. Â I hugged everyone else but not him. Â Still haven’t lived that one down. Â In my defense, my Dad also didn’t recognize him just recently. Â Maybe it is just me and my Dad.
- I once partied with my Uncle John when I was underage….shhhhh. Â It was awesome. Â And he was impressed that he didn’t have to hold my hair back because I out drank him…..yup I can hold my own in this Irish family. Â We also had to try to sneak back into Grandma’s house without her knowing. Â He struck the funniest pose as he froze when he thought he heard her moving around upstairs. Â I almost peed myself laughing. Â I miss his sense of humor.
- Once the cousins and I got in trouble with Grandma for something I suggested we do that I knew was wrong. Â When she asked who came up with the idea, my cousins all ratted me out. Â Grandma stood there, hands on her hips, looking at us sternly and then said “Now really. Â Who came up with it because I know it wasn’t Kiki.” Â No matter what they said, she didn’t believe it was me. Â I just stood quietly and let the boys take the fall out….hey. Â I had already brought her a tree branch.
- My Uncle J once stabbed a mouse with his fork as we were eating dinner and then went back to eating without saying a word. Â Pretty sure it was with the same fork.
- The same furniture from the 70’s still lives in the front room of my Aunt B’s house that her and Grandma bought when they bought the house. Â Same EXACT furniture. Â It is yellow and orange and brown with some sort of fruit pattern on it….so 70’s. Â I am scared that it has yet to age and it is not covered in plastic. Â It might be a huge fire hazard. Â I am also scared that my cousins will bring that furniture to my house one day and move it in when I am not home. Â I have nightmares.
- When I was small, my family and my Dad used to let me take sips of beer. Â Once, nobody paid any attention to how much beer I had consumed until my Aunty T noticed that the 5-year-old was drunk. Â Let’s call it Irish liver training. Â I highly recommend it. Â It has allowed me to be the consumer of wine that I now am. Â Excuse me while I go get another box.
- My Aunty T is a great secret keeper. Â I only hope to be half the woman she is…just saying. Pretty sure I get some of my awesomeness from her.
- The boy cousins in my family will play Barbies without hesitating. Â No really. Â They will even go get the Barbie box at Grandmas and play with you. Â They will also take the blame for the hole in the drywall in the basement….just saying.
- My Uncle M will NEVER live down leaving Aunt P at the McDonalds. Â EVER.
- My family is a HUGE believer in hugs, kisses and saying I love you. Â Even the boys. Â Let’s never lose that. Â It is priceless.
As my family gathers again to say goodbye to someone, I know that more memories will come flooding back to you all. Â Remember the good ones. Â Aunt Nancy, I hope this brought some laughter to you up there…..thank you for being such a big supporter of me.
Oh yeah. Â I didn’t die today. Â I did however realize that family truths and secrets are a good way to laugh through the tears. Â I am fat girl who is grateful for my obnoxious family running. Â The experiment continues….
I Love It!!!
Knew you would! Love you! I am sure your Mom laughed up there!