A few months ago, my niece, who has been teaching school in China for a couple of years, brought back a beautiful set of pearls for all her Aunties. (Those of us privileged enough to be her mother’s sisters.) The pearls were all different colors and unique for each of us. The sets included a necklace, a bracelet and earrings that were all genuine. You could tell from the shape and luster of each pearl that these were the real deal. They were heavy, not like the fake ones you get at department stores. They made me feel very special and I felt such gratitude towards her that she would think enough of me and my sisters to give such a beautiful gift.
I started reminiscing about my own “Aunties” and how, in even the simplest and smallest of ways, they made a big impact on my life. They probably had no idea that just by being themselves, they taught me a lot about life and living. In reality, they just came to visit a few times, or we went to visit them from time to time. In other words, we didn’t see each other very often, but knowing that I was a part of something more than my immediate family gave me a sense of connectedness.
I have to explain that I am the youngest child of a youngest child, so I didn’t know a lot of my relatives. All of my cousins were older, more the ages of my brothers and sisters. Also, most of my aunts and uncles lived a state away and we didn’t have many opportunities to see each other. So, when we did see each other, it was always a special experience. It was a chance for me to feel a part of my extended family and realize how much we were alike in many ways including how we think, act and look. Genetics definitely plays a part since we share the same DNA . We can live far away and still be so alike in many ways. This gave me a sense of belonging.
A few stories stand out in my mind and bring a smile to my face as I remember even some of the smallest acts of kindness and realize that these experiences and expressions of love have left a huge imprint on my heart in ways that helped shape me into the person I am today. They made me feel special, noticed and that I mattered.
One of my mother’s older sisters made a visit to Idaho once every blue moon. I call her my Tic Tac aunt because she introduced me to Tic Tac’s and always had them in her purse. She was always bubbly, excited and happy to see us. Her first husband, the father of her children, passed away fairly early in their marriage. I believe their kids were mostly grown, but she was still young enough to have a full life ahead of her. Consequently, she re-married and brought her new beau to meet the family. I honestly can’t even remember his name, but I remember her excitement and enthusiasm. We had to make a trip to town to go shopping and it happened to be right before a swimming party I was attending that evening. I wanted a beach towel so badly because all of the kids had beach towels, not just old bathroom towels that my Mom preferred I use in order to save money.  Me? I just wanted to fit in with my peers and avoid embarrassment. I begged my mother to buy me one but she just wouldn’t give in. My aunt, seeing my distress, told me to pick out the one I wanted and she would buy it for me. I was both relieved and excited. I used that beach towel for many years and thought about my aunt every time I used it. I kept it until it was ragged and torn. It was a good reminder that someone understood me enough to come to my aid in my teenage angst. A small gesture on her part created a long lasting memory that reminds me to be a little kinder, a little more thoughtful and treat people a little better no matter what your circumstances may be.
I remember my father’s oldest sister being the most gregarious.  We always stayed with her when we went to visit his old stomping grounds in Cache Valley, Utah. My paternal grandparents had passed away by the time I was five years old, so when we visited his sisters, hers was the place where we landed. Most of his sisters still lived close to home, so we made the rounds to visit, and then spent the night with her. She fascinated me. She was very opinionated, but also very kind and wise. She also had a dry sense of humor and you could always tell by the smirk on her face that she was kidding around. She wasn’t the sort of person to let anyone get away with anything, though. If she saw you doing something wrong, she would call you on it. She always said what was on her mind. (Probably where I get it from, which oft times gets me in the doghouse.) My mother didn’t always fully appreciate this trait in her, but I thought it was awesome. I remember her being very tall, strong, and talked with a little bit of a lisp. Her living room was home for a cuckoo clock that was downright fascinating. It is probably the reason I have one in my home today. I loved watching it and waiting for the little bird to pop its head out at the top of the hour.
Once when we were visiting her, we all ended up at a thrift store to have a look around. I was admiring an old necklace in the case and she came over and bought it for me. I was so thrilled! It was very unique and it cost less than a dollar but I wore it all during my high school years. I kept it for a really long time and one day started looking at it a little closer. Turns out it was an original Miriam Haskell necklace that was worth quite a bit of money. Miriam Haskell made costume jewelry from 1926 through the 1960’s. Her pieces are now considered vintage. I ended up selling this piece during a tough financial period, but I will always remember my aunt and the kindness and joy she brought to my life. She adored my Dad and I believe she adored this little niece of hers as well.
I suppose the take away from all this is that you never know how much a small act of kindness will affect someone. I believe we all have a genuine need to be loved, noticed and connected. The pearls I received from my niece were a good reminder that just a small simple act given freely from the heart can make a big difference in someone’s life. You never know, you may be the next one to brighten someone’s day.
Here’s to life’s little gems!!