Allow me to share with you a tradition from my early childhood, well actually it carried on into my teen years also.  Every year for my birthday my Aunt would take me out for lunch.  Specifically she would take us to China Town, a Chinese Restaurant here in Maryville, TN.  I remember this going on for as far back as I can remember.  At some point she made these oyster crackers that were coated with an Italian and Dill dressing.  They were delicious and I could slay a whole bowl solo.  Mind you your breath was rank afterwards but it was oh so worth it.  She did the same for my brother but he always got a Whatchamacalit candy bar until he got older and then he graduated to a Hershey’s Symphony bar.

But back to the Chinese.  She always ordered the same thing.  Wonton soup, Chicken Chow Mein, and eggroll.  Never a deviation.  China Town had this stuff called white pepper that she would put in her soup and she’d eat it first (because they brought it first) and just before the main dish would come out she would always, and I mean ALWAYS, say, “You know, I could just make a meal out of that soup.  Next time I’ll just get the soup because that’s really enough.”  But, she never did.  She always got the full boat and ate it down when it came.  I’ve had many a birthday lunches with her and this comment was as certain as the rising sun, without fail.  I found out that she said the same thing with my brother on his outings with her.

Now, I’ll never know why my aunt never heeded her own advice, even if we reminded her she’d still get it all.  Those lunches were always a good time.  She’d ask how we were, talk about things that were going on, she was quick to correct if we started speaking ill of anyone.  Oh she could get mad to be sure, but she wasn’t one to talk bad about folks or let others do so.  She had a way of finding the good in folks; including those that had brought her great hurt and pain.  She could worry too . . . she’d worry about people and events that were often outside of her control.  Looking back I think that just was another facet of her mindset on others.  She was heavily involved in the WMU at her church, she’s helped out more people than I can count, she was someone you could just sit and visit with all day long.

Early in the morning of January 9th God called my Aunt home.  It was sudden and unexpected.  I grieve the fact that just six weeks ago I had the thought that I needed to get down and see her with my family in tow.  But for one reason or another life got busy and it never happened.  To hear that someone so sweet was taken so suddenly was quite the shock.  To honor my aunt my brother and I thought it right that we go out and have Chicken Chow Mein, Eggroll, and wonton soup.  China Town is closed unfortunately so we went with another location.

We ordered our food, remembered, laughed, Jake and I both were fighting back tears; we ate the whole thing.  Funny thing is she was right.  You could make a meal just out of that soup.  But as the night went on we continued to visit and graze our meals.  At some point along the way I figured out that it wasn’t about the soup or the eggroll or even the chow mein.  It was about time.  You could wrap up the soup in ten minutes flat, it’s quick to the table and quick in the belly.  BUT, you had to wait for the rest of the meal, then there was the mixing and getting just the right consistancy of rice and chow mein.  This additional time meant more time talking about right and wrong, people, I won’t go as far as to say that I learned compassion from my Aunt but I am certainly a kinder person because of her.  That took more than soup . . . that took a meal.

As it was a school night our families had to part company after sitting there for several hours.  We got our boxes, went and paid, and with perfect timing my brother turned to me and said, “next time, I’ll just get the soup.”  So many fond memories of my Aunt, from counting blades grass, breaking beans in the front yard, birthdays, sweet tea, brocollii casserole (no one will ever do it better), oyster crackers, recipes . . . so many memories.  I’m suddenly wanting to go and visit with my Aunt Johnnie, Aunt Beck, Aunt Dot, Aunt Cathy, Uncle Stan, Aunt Nancy; folks that I’ve not spent nearly enough time with.  I’ve been sharing plenty bowls of soup; but I need some meals.

Aunt Louise, I love you.  Thank you for the influence you were in my life, I wish you could have fathomed the impact you have had on people.  I’ll see you again