Monday, January 07, 2008

The Russian Sisters

Yesterday my uncle found great aunt Sonia, age 99, dead on her kitchen floor. It was my mother's brother's weekly routine to check on their spinster aunt. Aunt Sonia had lived alone for her entire life--to the very end, as it happened.

She kept herself impeccably. Her makeup and its application was old, not cakey so much as thick and iridescent. She used to be a cosmetologist. On her head were platinum curls. She smelled of perfume dabbed on from the same bottle, one finger at a time, over fifty years. She had wattles under her chin and both arms. She was not soft, though; there was venom and pride in all her angles, all her words.

My uncle arrived at the house on Sunday and considered going straight to the garage to give her big, blue boat of an unused car a start, as was his custom. Instead, he went to the back door. He let himself in. He walked into the kitchen, where she was lifeless in a nightgown. He told my mother later that it was a good thing he hadn't gone to start the car first. Those were the emotions talking, because reality stated she'd been dead for at least a day, maybe a day and a half. Aunt Sonia could've waited five more minutes.

My mom was no more ruled by rational thought. "I can't believe she's gone," she told me.

"What do you mean?" I honestly wanted to know. Did my mother mean she was struck suddenly by the passage of time, by a long life no longer, by the unbelievable inevitability of death? Or did she mean what I thought she might?

"I mean, I can't believe it. She was not supposed to die, ever."

So I was right. My mother was not being philosophical. My mother was in denial. But as strange as it sounded, I think I understand. Probably we all do, those of us who knew aunt Sonia. Somewhere along the line we came to believe what we had always joked about: "Only the good die young."

My grandmother went first. She was Nadezda. Her name meant hope. Vera died next; she was faith. Then Anna and Olga.

Sonia meant wisdom. She was the last to go.


___

9 comments:

Amy said...

This is so pitch-perfect, Binky. That last line cuts right to the heart of the matter. Very beautiful, and your voice is so incredibly clear here.

I'm still up for our "workshop." I just might not be as prolific as I'd hoped.

Wildefrost said...

I hope I die like that. Not alone, but full of pride, knowing what I want, and living for myself.

S said...

lovely post.
and -- i'm sorry.

Girlplustwo said...

you are such a good writer. you really are.

and i am sorry for your loss.

Debbie said...

You're just so eloquent and perfectly tuned in your style. It never fails to charm me to pieces, no matter the subject.

In this case, I'm very sorry for your loss of an esteemed family member.

Chicky Chicky Baby said...

Wow. I had to read this a couple of times, especially that last part. Stunning.

I know what your Mom means, though. I had a great aunt that no one thought would die. When she did she left a larger hole than any of us could have imagined. My condolences.

Donna said...

Beautiful post, Binky. What a tribute.

Lawyer Mama said...

This is a beautiful post. I'm really reminded that you are a Writer (with a capital W).

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