Thank you Aunt Mary Lou

   I lost my Dad's side of the family in my Mom and Dad's divorce. I only mentioned this to give a back side to my story. I grew up and started my family, but there was always a piece missing and that was my family. After I had Mario, I started to think about my family and I really wanted to get to know them...to call them my family.
   One Memorial Day, my Dad told me that my Aunt Mary Lou had a family picnic and that I should go. On a whim, I made a casserole and a dessert, loaded the boys into the car and headed to my first Bowlin family picnic in close to fifteen years. That drive was horrible. I was so nervous. What if I didn't fit in? What if...what if.
   We pulled into my Aunt Mary Lou's drive and as I got out of the car, I saw my Aunt Mary Lou. "Little Linda?" She said as she smiled in disbelief. My heart melted instantly and as we hugged, I knew I was home.
   I don't know if she fully sees how much she has touched my life and made it better, but she has in so many ways. She was one of the first people to see my home after I remodeled it. I still remember her word of advice when she told me to always have a freshly cut lawn. If you have a nice lawn, nothing else matters.
   When Sammy was born, she made a quilt for him. I loved this quilt for many reasons. Every time he would go into the hospital, the quilt came too. The material was perfect on his skin and it was so much more comfortable to lay on than hospital sheets. The best part was after everything would settle down and Sammy would be resting comfortably on the quilt, I would lift the corner up to see Aunt Mary Lou's handwriting "For you Sammy, I love you Aunt Mary Lou"
   So on this Thanksgiving Eve, as I sit here thinking of all that I'm thankful for, I would like to make a huge gesture of gratitude to my Aunt Mary Lou. Thank you for all you do and all you all. You are aspiring and an inspiration.