Wednesday, April 19, 2023
To my Aunt Rosie,
This is my thank you and my heartfelt goodbye to you, I will always remember. Although over the years we grew apart, both by time and by distance, which unfortunately seems to be the norm when kids grow up, move away, have their own life, family, and responsibilities, you are and were always in my heart and I will always remember. My fondest memories of our time together are from my childhood. Staying the night, watching Golden Girls, or Matlock, or any of those classic 80's TV shows, I will always remember. Always wanting my height to be measured on your closet door, which you did for years and years, and seeing my line and date of how tall I was keep growing higher and higher, and as I grew up, looking back at all the dates of lines from before, I will always remember. Walking into your place and smelling the delicious aroma of your famous Kielbasa recipe. Sitting on your (plastic) covered couch, and sticking to it, which now that I have my own kids I totally understand that protective cover. Remembering your cat Tangerine, and her fanciful habitat. Going to Polka night. Parades in NYC. Riding coach busses to NY Mets games, I will always remember. Having family gatherings and all of us packed into your place, but we made it work.
My childhood with you and our family will always be cherished memories. Grandma Julie and Grandpa Stan (Poppy), Aunt Genia and Uncle Ted, and you Aunt Rosie, gave me more great memories than I think any of you realized. You made an awkward kid, with big ole' glasses, feel like the most important person in the world. You loved me, cared for me, took me places and brought smiles to my face all the time! One of our last times together, you shared stories with me of my Uncle Matty (which unfortunately I never got to meet since he passed away the year before I was born), but it sounded like he was an amazing man that I know you loved very much. We talked about our family tree and our Polish heritage, and you gave me something that I will forever cherish and one day will hand down to my kids. You gave me your recipe book. Full of printed and handwritten recipes dating back well over 50 years, recipes that were handed down to you, and recipes of meals from my childhood, including your famous Kielbasa! I will always cherish this recipe book, it represents more to me than simply meals that can be prepared. It is a time capsule, and a time machine, providing a connection to you, our family, and the years of before.
Enjoy those hugs and comfort from Uncle Matty, and please give Grandma, Aunt Genia, and Uncle Ted a big hug for me.
Thank you Aunt Rosie, I love you and I will always remember.
-Chris (but as you always said: Christopher)
