Stacey’s MM Post

I remember giggling about it with my cousin Jared about three years ago.
I remember shaking my head in disbelief when I heard her say, “This is going to be my last trip to Paris.”
I remember telling my great-aunt, straight to her face, that I didn’t believe a word she said. She smiled and said, “Well honey, you’re right.”

My Aunt Mill, who passed away last week after a 15 month battle with cancer, was one of the most vivacious people I’ve ever met. My great-uncle, her husband, passed away in December 1989. Many people would have let a spouse’s death put a damper on them. But not Aunt Mill. Even though she always talked about her dear husband, she didn’t stop living. She traveled the world, but especially loved two cities: New York and Paris, which she frequently visited for extended periods of time. In fact, from 1996-97, she moved to Paris for an entire year by herself! I can remember walking around the arrondisement she lived in with her and my parents. Everyone seemed to know her! Many of the shopkeepers greeted her by name as she proudly introduced us as “Ma famille. Ils habitont aux Etats-Unis… a New Jersey.”

Hence, whenever Aunt Mill told us that she was making her last trip to Paris, we always found humor in that. I envisioned her going until she was no longer able to do so since she felt alive in that city. That’s why I finally called her out on it the last time she said she wasn’t going to be making any more trips overseas. “You’re lying!” I said.
“Well, honey, you’re right,” she replied knowingly.

Aunt Mill took one last trip to Paris before she was diagnosed with cancer 15 months ago. She passed away at the age of 80, having lived a full and happy life with two amazing daughters and five precious grandchildren. I feel fortunate that she moved to the East Coast when I was a teenager since I had the chance to spend lots of time with her in college and when she visited Manhattan, where I lived during most of my 20’s.

I hope, as I grow older, that I will have the same spunk as my Aunt Mill did. She was truly unique and special.