#MicroblogMondays: 30 years an auntie

Thirty years ago, on a frigid December afternoon, dh called me at work & greeted me with the words "Hello, auntie!"  Our first nephew (his younger brother's first son) had finally arrived, making us an aunt & uncle for the first time. (A second nephew arrived not quite four years later.)

We were thrilled, and we couldn't wait to get to the hospital that night -- along with every single relative from both sides of dh & BIL's extended family, as well as many of SIL's relatives as well.  (Our nephew was the first baby born into both families in several years.)  The din in the hallway from all those excited relatives was unbelievable.  The horrified nurse chased us out of the room where poor exhausted SIL was sleeping after her C-section. Babies were still being kept in the nursery back then (vs staying with their mothers), and BIL tapped a card on the window so the nurse would bring the right baby over & hold him up so we could see him. I remember how our nephew opened his eyes and gazed at us for the first time, with a slightly annoyed expression that clearly said, "Who are all these people, and why did they wake me up from my nice nap??"  ;)

One year later, we drove through a barrage of ice and snow across the city to celebrate that adorable baby's first birthday.  We have yet to miss one of his birthday celebrations.

This past weekend was birthday #30 (gulp).  His wife organized a surprise party -- and he was actually surprised!  (lol)  I remember thinking we would have to sing "Happy birthday" extra loud this year to compensate for the absence of FIL's booming vibrato.  Nephew was named after FIL &  FIL never/rarely missed one of his birthday celebrations either.

I could never have imagined all the twists and turns life would take over these past 30 years. (The days & weeks & months sometimes drag... but wow, the years really do go by so quickly.)

I am sad about Katie, and the other children we never got to have during those years, and the grandchildren we will never have. And I wish we had made more of our aunt/uncle relationship when our nephews were younger (and we still thought we would have a family of our own to dote on and do fun family things with).

But I am so very thankful for the blessing of our two nephews, and so very proud of the wonderful young men they have both grown up to be.

You can find more of this week's #MicroblogMondays posts here.