MY SISTER, SUSANNAH

 One of the more disheartening aspects of aging is the inevitable necessity of watching your contemporaries perish.  My sister, Susannah, has just died, and of course I feel rotten about it.  Of course, now that it is too late, I strongly regret how little attention I paid to her during her 83 years of life.  As a child she was a bundle of joy to my parents but, I regret to say, an annoyance to me.  I was four years her senior and teased her mercilessly - she once threw a hammer at me, certainly for good reason.  She was not an excellent student, but by dint of hard work and dedication she mastered a difficult program at U. Arizona and then functioned successfully asa health care professional.  She was married twice – her first husband Harry, a prince of a guy, died tragically at an early age. With Harry, Susannah had two children, subsequently two grandchildren and, just before her death, a great grandchild.

Susannah was not a particularly gregarious person, but she always seemed to be involved in things.  She was a birder on and off, delighted in taking her little dog to visit nursing homes, at various times taught a fitness class, went on group hikes, and so forth.  I had the impression that she needed little “down time”.  I envy her that.

Well, Hell!  Susannah, what can I say?  I will always regret not making more of an effort to keep our lives entwined.  Now all I can say, after the Navajo – Go in peace, dear sister.  We always will love you.

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Okay, I give up!

Another of the more annoying aspects of advancing age is the increasing inability to organize/store/retrieve things, ranging from favorite coffee cups to invaluable computer files.  I have spent many fruitless and frustrating hours searching for pictures of, and writings by, my sister.  That is why this blog has no introductory picture – and also lacks a wonderful attachment.  Family members should have a CD with remembrances of our days at the Lake City cabin (late 40s and most of the 50s).  True to form, I have hopelessly misplaced my copy.  If any of you can find it, please share it, along with any pictures you might retain.  Susannah’s contribution is absolutely priceless.