My Birthday Tribute to Auntie Karen
My Birthday this year is a bit bittersweet. It's the first year I didn't wake up to wish Auntie Karen Happy Shared Birthday with me. So, I'm waking up to share the tribute I wrote for her instead knowing her heart hears me...
I was her birthday present. The first grandchild and the first niece or nephew born on mom’s side of the family. And I was born on her birthday. We were connected from the go.
In our family it wasn’t the gramma who chased and smothered the children in lipstick kisses. It was Auntie Karen. Only, I liked it. Most of the older kids would always wipe it off right away, but the littlest ones were always too oblivious to care so would be running around playing all day with the love mark of Auntie Karen on their faces.
I remember, we had been living in BC for a few years by this point and my daughter Evangeline, who was quite young, hadn’t met Auntie Karen yet, but we were down visiting mom and dad and Auntie Karen came by to drop off some sausage and Ev walked up to her and said; “I have flowers in my eyes.” Auntie Karen said “Come here let me see.” Ev walks up all innocent as a lamb, good and close to her face and Auntie Karen with her pro laser eagle focus and precision swoops in and juicy smooches her square on the face.
While Ev overcame her shellshock, I said; “Evan, meet Auntie Karen.”
I remember Girl Guide Camp when Auntie Karen was one of the leaders in charge of planning activities for the weekend. OMG. That was also the time she dared me to eat a bite of zest soap. I don’t know if she expected I would do it, but I was at that age when accepting a dare was a rite of passage of sorts. So “no” wasn’t an option in my mind. Anytime someone asks me if I think my s**t don’t stink, I’ll just be like; “well, one time it didn’t”. I’ll have that ace up my sleeve forever so thanks for that, Auntie.
Auntie Karen was my confidant when I fell in love at 14; with the Social Studies intern teacher. And she was so dang awesome. Looking back it was ridiculous, but she never made me feel that way. She didn’t encourage it, but she DID lend me her Rod Stewart album “If We Fall In Love Tonight” which was THEE perfect swoon worthy anthem soundtrack.
She did, however, warn me that he would likely marry the lady he was dating at the time, so she let me down as easy as she could. And it did cut less deep when I found out. So, kudos to Auntie on that call.
I remember at 16 singing at a competition in Medicine Hat and I came real close to winning and a few of the judges were expressive in their rooting for me, so it was kind of a hard loss that took me down pretty good.
After that disappointment Auntie Karen gifted me a gold pendent necklace with the image of an eagle on it. She said; “someday your gonna soar with the eagles.” I still have it. It’s on its 3rd chain, so, I like it a lot.
The morning after she died, I woke up seeing her face SO clearly. Sitting across from me on her couch in her house visiting with me. Pursing her lips together and letting just her eyes laugh like she did when she found something amusing. I saw her slap her thigh like she did when she was talking and wanted to make a statement. I heard her voice when she says; “love you, hon” or “I love you, girl. You know that.” Then I remembered the way she always kinda looked like Reba to me. Probably because of her big beautiful eyes, big hair and defined facial features.
When music was my whole life she was one of my biggest fans. I can still hear the way she would say; “WOW, was THAT ever GOOD. HOllee COW.” Hollee cow was definitely up there in repertoire of favorite sayings. That and “you go, girl.”
She knew how to make cinnamon rolls, monster cookies and popcorn balls with the most perfect amount of smarties and jube jubes in each ball. You wouldn’t think that would be so hard to duplicate…I’ll always remember her animated, expressive, pointy lips. They could have their own cartoon. For real. Her curly, poofy hair, her smooshy and voluptuous unapologetic full frontal hugs, how, to me, she always walked into a room like she owned it, which was always slightly intimidating, but mostly inspiring.
“I Hope You Dance” has been our song for about 20 years. And will continue to be. The idea came as she was checking out so I didn’t have time to record me singing it to send to mom to play for her, but she woulda loved that. And she woulda loved that I’m singing again and she woulda been over the moon that I would dedicate it to her. She said I’d soar with the eagles someday. I guess she just beat me to it.
I love you, Auntie Karen.
Happy Birthday to us <3
