So my father called me today and told me my Aunt Fran had passed away.

She was actually my great Aunt Fran, so it shouldn't come as a surprise, but it does. She was a farmer's wife, and full of life, and I guess I pictured her soldiering on with those two canes of hers (hip replacement) forever.

Or at least until I could see her one more time. I don't know when I last saw her, it might have, sadly, been my wedding day.

Which was almost 9 years ago. Too long.

Because Aunt Fran and her husband owned a giant blueberry plantation with an in ground pool, chickens, dog, giant house and grounds. And it was in those grounds that I spent most of my happy times as a young child (outside of time with my mother's parents). I can still remember the flaky biscuits she'd layer with cool whip and freshly picked strawberries for breakfast.

I remember how proud she was of her granddaughter for going to Japan (something I could relate to) and how she tolerated an ungodly amount of running, shrieking and racing around by various cousins.

Her husband, Uncle George, passed a while ago, but I have clear memories of them, strange for me as most of my childhood is a blur. I remember going from the strawberry shortcake with Aunt Fran to their living room where Uncle George would be smoking a cigar and telling stories of World War II or complaining about politics or telling a tall tale for our enjoyment.

So I'm sad. I feel like it's the end of an era, even while I realize that era's been gone for a long time. Rest easy, Aunt Fran, I think that the people who remember you are a testament to the life you lived.

Oh yes, and I had my first major bike accident with the girls in the back on my bike trailer. Just scrapes (on me) and nothing on the girls, but they ended up head down on a major street here in Beaverton and I was pretty scared until I could flip them over upright again.

No cars involved, just my own carelessness and an overly large curb I didn't see coming...but still.

So now (knock on wood) I'm waiting for the third bad thing to happen. They come in threes, right?