Aunt Nancy

Aunt Nancy on the beach at her cottage with Marian, Laura, Gillian and Brenna


I view Mom's relatives as blue-collar rednecks, but that's unjust to her youngest sister, whom we visited in Nova Scotia. I had intended to stop for a few hours, but Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jack hadn't entertained relatives in years and insisted we stay in their cottage, 10 minutes from the house. We received the red carpet treatment. One night Nancy, Marian and I settled down to a feast of sweet corn, steak and the best lobster I'd tasted in decades. We also saw cousin Tracy and her three children.

Nancy owns the gift shop at Upper Clements Park. She took me there with the five children the morning before we left. While the kids went on rides, Nancy and I gossiped.

"What about you?" she asked. "Are you seeing anyone?"

I hesitated before saying, "I have a boyfriend."

It took her by surprise. My head was spinning. I can't remember her response, but it was benevolent, and I gave her a hug. Later she said, "A few hours together and we get to know each other more than in all those years."

Then it was time to leave. Nancy hugged me and said, "Have a good life. Be happy."







The lake


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