Aunt Shari -- a vivacious, well loved Aunt

Remembrances of a Special European Holiday Trip

I first laid eyes on our Sarah in August 1976, when we visited her family in Oshkosh.  She was so delicate and such a sweet compliant baby. I saw Sarah many times during her childhood and she was always fun to tease, with a quick witty reply.  We spent the most concentrated time with Sarah when we spent the holidays with her and Kaara in the winter of 1996/97.  We spent a few days in her adopted city of Angers exploring its lovely little shops and its ancient fortress. We had asked Sarah to accompany us on a trip into Paris, Brussels, and then to spend New Year’s Eve with Thor’s Tante Suzie who lived in a small town near the Argonne Forest. We were at Sarah’s place at the appointed time on the morning of our departure.  We sat in our car and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Finally, Sarah arrived and, after getting into the car and making the usual morning greetings, she promptly fell asleep. So much for some zany conversation from this bright, cheerful little elf! I arrived at the conclusion that Sarah was not a morning person.

She and Kaara livened up that trip considerably. She is nothing if not a good sport. We laughed and joked about the ugly Christmas trees of the French and she took no offense, joining in the fun. We got lost in Brussels and needed some assistance in figuring out how to exit. So, we forced Sarah to speak to a gentleman to explain our predicament and ask him to help us. She was very self-effacing about her French-speaking skills, but she was a good sport and complied. After all, she did want to continue the trip and not drive around lost in Brussels all day. We had a good laugh as we drove away because this poor guy, while leaning into the car window to talk with us, dropped the package in his hand into our car. It was a pair of ladies pantyhose. He became embarrassed and tried to explain that he had to purchase them for his wife.  At least that’s how Sarah translated his explanation to us.

It was a snowy night and we took a little road off of the main highway that led us to the little town of Bouillon, Belgium, a veritable winter-wonderland nestled in a valley in the shadow of an ancient castle and fortress. Sarah’s first remark was, “Mama would love this.” We had a great time exploring the castle on the hill, and visiting the quaint shops in the downtown area. Sarah and Kaara’s editorial remarks about everything and everyone kept Thor and me laughing. Sarah proved a valuable interpreter with Thor’s French-speaking Tante Suzie. She never blinked an eye when Tante Suzie passed around her Cuban cigars on New Year’s Eve . . . however, only Tante Suzie lit up.

We returned to Paris to put Sarah on her train back to Angers and decided to have lunch first. We had no idea where to look for a restaurant close to the train station and just chose one at random.  Paris may be famous for its cuisine, but that doesn’t include the food served close to the train station. We ate our last lunch together in a smoke-filled dining room where Sarah and Kaara ordered spaghetti thinking they couldn’t go wrong. NOT! We laughed and laughed at Sarah and Kaara’s snarky remarks about their “couldn’t go wrong” choice.  Perhaps Sarah isn’t much fun before 10:00 A.M., but beyond that she is a good sport, self-effacing, witty, and just lots of fun to be around. I was sad to put her on her train and I know that Kaara missed her as she was such good company and easy to be with.

Thor and I were able to visit with Sarah on several occasions when Kaara was going to college in Illinois. She was and continues to be a joy to be around. She laughs at my corny remarks and she gives as good as she gets. No, she gives better than she gets. There’s no one I’d rather tease than Sarah. Perhaps she is just patronizing an aging aunt . . . okay, an aged aunt, but I hope she never changes and I always look forward to seeing this sweet, godly, bright, witty, young 40-year-old.

Happy Birthday, Sarah girl!  Uncle Thor and I love you so much.

Aunt Shari

Editor's note:  That was NOT Sarah's Aunt Shari pictured at top -- Though I enjoyed having you think so for a moment ;>  That was Sarah's Uncle Thor's aunt from Belgium.  That makes Sarah her....great....uh, I dunno.  But, I will tell you this:  Sarah has a thing for old people with Chutzpah!

Other pics from Aunt Shari's wonderful post:

Brr...Europe cold, says Sarah.  Editor:  Sarah no like Cold.

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah and her cousin Kaara (Shari and Thor's daughter in Europe).  Sarah like Kaara.