My Aunt Diane passed away two weeks ago after a very short battle with cancer. No one was prepared for it and I still think most of us are still in shock. I just can't wrap my mind around it. It started with stomach pain, then ulcers, then cancer but not sure what kind, to pancreatic cancer and only given a week to live. She died 4 days later. This all happened with in a month. She was like the glue for the whole family. She loved everyone of us like her own.
I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with her when I was younger. Some of my best memories of her are back packing and camping. I will never forget the time in wind rivers when we were all so slow to hike out. She said she couldn't keep stopping or she wasn't going to make it up the hill so she went on with out us. When we finally reached her in the field at the top she was in tears. She started screaming about a big bear and how you have never seen a 40 year old women with a 40 pound pack run up hill as fast as she did. As scary as that was I'm pretty sure we were all laughing at her analogy.
I also remember what we call the "Hell hike". She was crazy enough to take Marti, Clint, David, me, (I'm pretty sure we were all 12 and younger) Rick, and my grandpa Phillips to hike the Unitas. It was the worst hike every and the fishing was horrible. But we sure did eat good. She carried a big old pack of tortillas and we stuffed em full of some rice stuff. They were very heavy and if ya have ever gone back packing you know how hard that would really be. Now she kept reminding us how heavy those things were and we all should be grateful that the old lady decided to bring them along. I was totally grateful and I know everyone else was too.
Then there is always Flaming Gorge. She loved that place. Just like all of us do. It will be hard with her not there. She always had to go hike Leady Peak and put her name on a rock and put it on the big rock piles. She was terrified of the lake and all the cliff jumping and swimming. She always came though. Who is going to bring all the food? She loved to take care of everyone out there.
I also remember when I would have a sleep over with Marti and we would stay up late and dress all weird. She came in one time and just laughed right alone with us. She was also kind enough to share Marti with me all summer long. She would let her stay at my house for weeks at a time. Good times those were.
She secretly dressed my Maddie the first year of her life. Every time I saw her she would have some new cute outfit for her. She would always come up to me and say, "Kim, I found the cutest little outfit for Maddie and I just had to buy it. But don't tell my girls cuz they will be mad I didn't buy them anything." Then she would just laugh her little laugh and put her hands over her mouth the way she always did. I'm going to miss that laugh.
We can't forget about her running. Every Tuesday and Thursday on my way to work around 9am I always drove past her and would honk and wave. Or sometimes stop to say Hi. She ran for miles everyday. She was an inspiration.
This has all made me stop and think about my life, my family. It makes me want to be a better person like her. To help whenever I can. To take better care of my self. To keep my house cleaner. To be very involved with my whole family. To stay strong in the church no matter what. To love my new calling in the cub scouts. To stop and enjoy all the good moments and let go of all the bad. That no one is perfect. That family matters the most. That life can change in a matter of moments. That someday I can and will see her again.
I LOVE YOU AUNT DIANA!!!
Read about her here.
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