A Lot In Common

My mom, Collene Spencer, had a lot in common with her older sister, Evelyn Hushman. While she was close to all her sisters, she and Aunt Evelyn had a special bond, possibly because their husbands got along so well. Even before my mom married, my parents, Al and Collene Spencer, would double date with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle George. After both couples were married and had children, we spent a lot of time together. I remember playing with the Hushman kids, who, being a bit older than me, often set the tone for our games. It didn’t matter, though…it was always fun.

Later, my parents joined the same bowling team with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle George on Monday nights. They bowled together for years until they decided to stop, except for Aunt Evelyn, who continued bowling for many more years. I even got to substitute on her team when she bowled with her daughters, which I enjoyed because it kept our families connected in an enjoyable way.

Over time, as life got busier, I saw Aunt Evelyn less and less, which made me sad. Time seems to slip away so quickly, and before you know it, loved ones age and life changes. Eventually, I only saw her at family events like Christmas parties and picnics, and then not even those. When Aunt Evelyn passed away on May 4, 2015, just over two months after my mom, I felt a deep sadness and loneliness. Losing them both so close together was hard, but I like to think the sisters, who had so much in common, are together again, enjoying their new chapter. Today would have been Aunt Evelyn’s 97th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Aunt Evelyn. We love and miss you dearly.