THE LAST LETTER

June 3rd, 2008



Dear Minnie:

I hate to admit it but I didn't really like you when we first met. After being told that you were going to be my oldest brother's wife, I went off to sulk. He was my Hero and I was very jealous. Not so much because he was marrying you but because he'd be leaving our family home and spending all of his time with your son and daughter who weren't too much younger than I.

When you became very ill after having Rodney's second child and had to have major surgery in Halifax, I felt very guilty for having resented you earlier. And I've loved you ever since.

Still, I now feel as if I didn't REALLY know you until after my brother died in 2003. Suddenly, you talked more, you shared more and I grew to know and love you as my sister in law and as my running buddy. We attended the same church, liked the same music, went to the Senior Games, played 45's at our Seniors Club, cribbage at the Firehall, attended Variety shows and church suppers; talking about baseball; we always went up to Yarmouth together to the monthly Sentimental Journey dances. The time we spent with one another was fun; good quality time filled with lots of tears and laughter.

I'll miss our late night talks when neither of us was sleepy and one would call the other to chat or gossip or plan the week's events. Or commisserate about the weather, the high cost of gas, the world's crisis, etc.

If I wanted to know anything about the Island, all I had to do was ask you. I can hear you now: "So & so's great grandmother was a Ross or a Brannon or a Smith"....whatever......and 15 minutes later you'd still be going back in time. Ironically, you grew up on Cape Island yet lived in Barrington; I grew up in Barrington and lived on Cape Island.

I know how much you missed Rodney and how you longed to be with him again. The sun went out of your world when the breath went out of his. I'm sorry I was jealous of his love and adoration for you when as a child I missed him after he married you. Your love for one another was true, inspirational and all encompassing.

Barrington will miss you; your cat will miss you; our Church will too. You'll be sorely missed by your family and especially your children but I for one will always wish you were with us just hanging out together, talking about our favourite topic......Coronation Street! Who can I complain to now about 'Cilla or Norris or David, the evil one?

You lost a baby and got through it; you struggled with a brain tumour and fought it; you buried your husband and survived it; but this last unexpected, sudden illness was insurmountable and you faced death with courage and dignity.

I admire your strength and pray that you can step into Heaven to find my brother grinning and saying "What took you so long, Mum?"