Skip to main content

The Far Away Aunt


I am the “far away aunt” – the one that has to take an airplane to come visit.  The one that mails presents at birthdays and Christmas, and cards other times throughout the year.  I come to town a couple of times a year – visit a week or so – then disappear again.  Sometimes my nieces and nephews and I talk on the phone or video chat, but mostly, I am the aunt that is sort of unknown.

Until now.

I am living in Omaha with my nephew, his wife, and their two boys, Ryker (age 4) and Keegan (age 2).  They set up a great room for me in the basement, and I share the boys’ bathroom and shower upstairs.  Being here has given me such an amazing opportunity to get to hang out with them and know them better. 

Ryker, Keegan and I have become pals.  When Keegan comes home from daycare, he sometimes stands at the top of the basement stairs and yells, “Aunt Suuusiiin, Aunt Suuusiiin, Aunt Suuuusinnnn” until I pop my head around the corner and say hello.  The three of us I play all kinds of games, mostly sports related:  football guys, hockey guys, and actual hockey with real sticks and a net in the living room.  This morning before my shower I had the task of explaining to Ryker what VOTING means (try doing THAT when you are not a parent and “just an aunt” – walking that minefield to explain something neutrally so not as to expose the kid to your own views/prejudices…). 

And sometimes my nephew Nate comes down and he and I have long, meaningful conversations that both make me think and make me proud.  He is a terrific guy and his wife is sweet, kind, and smart.

Neighbor boys gave the kids several Halloween costumes (on top of the stash they already had).  They both have had a hard time deciding what to be for Halloween – so many choices!!!  This morning Ryker asked me what I was going to be.  “Hmmm, I haven’t decided yet.  Do you have a costume I could borrow??”.  I knew this was a big ask.  He is at an age where sharing isn’t his favorite thing, PLUS he hadn’t fully decided what HE wanted to wear.  I didn’t expect my request to be greeted with such a quick, “Sure!”.  He ran and got me a costume.  A green Incredible Hulk top.  It.  Is.  Fabulous.

“THANK YOU, RYKER!  I love it!!!  I will wear it!”. 
“Ummm, Aunt Susan, but it doesn’t have PANTS…”
“That’s ok, buddy.  I don’t need pants!  I will wear my jeans.”

So that is how it came to be.  53 year old me dressed up in a slightly too tiny Marvel Kids Hulk costume.

And loving every minute of it.

The far away aunt (love handles and all...)



Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hahah!!!! The incredible Tiny Hulk Aunt Susan!!! Too cute!
October 31, 2019 at 5:59 PM
That guy said…
Who else but Aunt Susan...? Love it!
October 31, 2019 at 6:14 PM
Susie Evers said…
Happy Hulkoween!!! What a cute story!
October 31, 2019 at 11:58 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Ride At Dawn

I can’t be the only one feeling down. And stressed. And nervous. And angry. And confused. And just about every other negative emotion that could be listed. There is just so much ANGST in the world right now, especially with the upcoming elections in the US.   And sometimes (at least for deep feelers like myself) it just feels like a little too much to bear. But then I get a reminder. A reminder that even in the midst of all of these sleepless nights and fret – there IS good in the world. I got 2 reminders recently, and I thought I should share them in case you haven’t had any.   I don’t know, I guess with the hopes that the reminders I came across will help boost your spirits a bit, too. Here’s the first one. This hat. We came home the other day and this was hanging on our front doorknob.   Now, we have had a LOT of things left on our porch over the years – rusty cans of soup, brand new snow boots, and everything in between – ...
2 comments
Read more

The Girl Who Can't Ride a Bike

I am “the girl who can’t ride a bike”. I guess to be accurate, I should say that I WAS “the girl who can’t ride a bike”.   But it was such a big part of my identity growing up, that the never formalized (but often teased about) nickname stuck in my psyche. You know how most kids love to jump on their bikes and pedal around the neighborhood once they have figured out how to balance, brake, and GO?   Yeah, that wasn’t me.   I wasn’t that kid. I am not sure WHAT really happened. The one thing I do remember is being on a bike in my family’s garage in Omaha, Nebraska trying to ride my bike.   It must’ve been winter, otherwise, why wouldn’t I have been outdoors??   But I think my foot slipped off the pedal and I know for sure my knee hit the handlebar.   It hurt.   I remember crying. But I am guessing that it hurt my pride more than it hurt my knee.   I think I was already past the age where kids were “supposed” to ride a bike. ...
7 comments
Read more

The Presents

We are old. Giving gifts has always meant a lot to me.  I was raised in a household that valued gifts, valued “things” actually.  At Christmas time, the base of our tree would be piled hiiiigh with presents wrapped in brightly colored paper tied with neatly curled ribbons.    Birthdays would mean being spoiled by more gifts.   Even Valentine’s Day came with a present.   So, without being overtly taught, I learned that love was shown by giving something tangible.   As I became an adult, I noticed people older than me asking for things for the holidays that I thought were silly – cheese, wine, nuts…   “Those aren’t PRESENTS,” I remember thinking. “Presents are touchable, physical things – things to be KEPT, not to be consumed.”   So, when I found my life partner, I showered him with GIFTS.   Gifts wrapped just as I had been subconsciously taught must be wrapped in beautiful paper, tied tight with a bow.   But...
Post a Comment
Read more