Dolly
To most Dolly, to me Aunt Doll. A simple woman I adored. Aunt Doll never married and never had children. She lived with my grandparents until their passing. Then she remained in their home until she could no longer take care of herself.
Aunt Doll was my Dad’s biggest fan. One of his oldest sisters. She had been in love, but to a divorced man and that was forbidden. She was not allowed to have a relationship with a divorced man. Different times for sure.
With her rough, deep voice she somehow brought comfort. My older siblings called her crabby. I thought she was just quiet and sometimes funny. She had this subtle little way of saying the littlest thing and making you smile. She smoked constantly. She wore a hair net and smock, as if she worked in a diner or a hair salon. Other than being a housekeeper for a couple in her twenties, she never worked outside the home.
Aunt Doll represented a life people didn’t want to aspire to. Back in the day, everyone seemed to have ambitions and goals to succeed. But now, I think Doll would be the envy of many. She needed nothing more than her coffee, toast, cigarettes and television. Soap Operas during the day and news and old movies at night. She would take my Grandma fishing, although I do not believe she partook in the sport. She would cook the fish for my Grandma and Dad.
She would never play games or cards with the rest of us. She sat at the table. She laughed occasionally at the digs the cousins and aunts made at each other.
After my grandma passed and during her funeral, my Dad had asked me to stay by Aunt Doll’s side. I was only fourteen, but I took the assignment seriously. I loved my Aunt Doll, through her soft-gruffness, if that makes sense. When she was forty, she seemed more like eighty, today it would have seemed like she was one-hundred. Times definitely were different back then. Aunt Doll stopped living before her time. Now as I start to age, I understand more.
The world is not always kind to people as they age. I will continue to speak out against ageism for as long as I can. I will instill this value in my own grandchildren. I hope they will be inspired to continue the fight long after I am gone.
We live in simpler times in the US today as there are no wars, less industrialization. We have the internet and devices to keep us entertained for endless hours. The world has gotten bigger and busier and yet life has gotten smaller and simpler. I am not sure I aspire to live in days gone by. It seems like we were so busy. We had to go out to do anything, movies, bowling, sporting events, parks, swimming, restaurants. Now you can turn on your favorite show or movie. There are thousands to choose from. You can order in food from grocery stores or restaurants. You can play an array of games online by yourself or with others. Swimming pools are in back yards and in our communities. Gyms seem to be on every corner.
I am thankful that I had more ambition to be more, to experience more and to share more. We are blessed to have the opportunities we have today.
Fabulous, Fun, and Frustrating, People 
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