Dear Aunt Poo,

It has been a while since I wrote a letter to you. But I used to do it quite a bit. For about five years I wrote to you every month, and included a check for the loan you gave me to buy my jeep with. We both liked the built in letter writing. Still, when the loan was paid off, they were not sent as often. And this will probably be the last letter I write to you. We are supposed to let go, but I am not so good at that.

So, I will write this here where I know you will get it. Where there is so much love for you and because of you. You gave so much to so many. You took in orphans and travelers and the love you so easily gave made us all more ok in our worlds. There is no one like you and I have been very lucky to have you in my life. I will learn to live without writing or visiting you, but I won't ever be without the part of me you nourished. The part that shares your family and grows it until it spreads far beyond the nucleus. The part which learned to love all things and aches to live more quietly. Like you did.

I will go fishing with no expectation of catching fish and I will think of you as I wander. I will find some of the roads we went down together, and I will share them with others. I will remember your beautiful smile - I do miss your beautiful smile.

Peace to us all. And an eternity of love to you, my dear Aunt Poo.

Steph