A Very long Day....

We were up nice and early because we knew we had a long day ahead.

My Aunt Lena passed away a few days ago, after suffering a massive heart attack a week ago Sunday.

My father is one of eight children born to Ukrainian immigrant parents. There were six sons and two daughters. The sons fought in wars and returned home and all five if the children that have passed away thus far lived long lives. That in and of itself strikes me as pretty amazing!

Now there are only three of the children remaining. My father is the eldest, then his brother, who is suffering from Alzhiemer's, and the youngest brother. It was a sad and hard thing, watching my father and Uncle Dick saying their good-byes to Aunt Lena.....

After the funeral, we went to my cousin and her husband's house where cousins, aunts and uncles talked and enjoyed one another's company. It is always incredible that although I rarely see any of my relatives, when we do see one another, it is as though we had visited just last week....Family ties really are strong ties!

We went to visit my parents and brother afterwards and stayed until eight o'clock. It was in their back yard that I was able to catch this Cardianl....I am unsure if it was a female or perhaps an immature male.

I was happy to visit but surprised when we realized how late it was! Our drive home is three hours, so it was indeed a long day.

But, a wonderful day. Although it was sad saying good bye to my aunt, it was okay. She was eighty-seven and she had lived a very good and long life. Good bye, Aunt Lena....