My Aunt Carmen
by Ricky Doc Sauceda
In my growing years, my momma's second youngest sister, Carmen, was an antagonist in my life. She never failed to take the opportunity to verbally jab at me in some kind of way. I was regularly incurring comments from her about my appearance.
When we would visit her in Humble, Texas, she was always laying the law about where I was allowed to walk, sit or breathe in her home. She just had a penchant for intimidating me and I never knew why. I was very frustrated over these experiences.
After getting married and having become a father to my two older children, I visited with her. I cannot recall the reason for this occasion but it indeed took place. I had my wife and children with me.
Aunt Carmen fell in love with my children...immediately. She doted over them, made sure that they had something to eat and was very affectionate to them. She just couldn't pour out enough love on them.
I was astounded by this event. All of the bitterness and hurt that I had experienced were wiped away that day. She even allowed them into what had been off limits to me as a child - the toy area. She let them take their pick of anything that they wanted. My heart completely melted at this great act of love and kindness.
Aunt Carmen had married a master plumber, my uncle John who had been raised in The Heights of Houston, Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy and built their home with his brothers by hand. It was a big brick house and it was the site of many family gatherings.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 80s. She underwent treatment and had a mastectomy. The cancer did not go away. It got worse. I remember seeing her in that hospital bed in the guest room of her own beautiful home. She was frail and very sick.
I was deeply compassionate in my feelings for her condition at this time. Her display of love towards my children enabled me to appreciate her as a person. I really cared about what was going on with her. She eventually died in that bed one night.
She left behind Uncle John, my cousins Johnny and Linda, her sisters and brothers, her young grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. Her church in Humble was St. Mary Magdalene. Over those years, I had attended services there a few times. It is where her funeral mass was conducted.
Since then, my momma, her sister Ruby and her brother Charlie have joined her. Uncle Charlie was gunned down after a bar fight and both momma and Aunt Ruby died from Diabetes Type II. There are only two left of my momma's siblings - Aunt Esther and Uncle Andrew.
Death is a part of life. Coping with it is very important. We must never get lost in our depression. Our loved ones would not want us to do that. They would want us to appreciate our remaining days and live as happy as we can.
God bless all families. Amen.