All my great aunts and uncles are very special to me

They are like my seven extra grandparents. When I think of what love and marriage is supposed to be, I think of my abuelos and their sisters and brothers in law. I like thinking about all of them in east LA in the 50s, helping each other raise their families, maybe sometimes working at my abuela's restaurant. My great aunt Lenie was my sweetest aunt. She lived across the street from my abuelos. She was so gentle and always smiling and paying someone a compliment. (So different from Abuela.) She always told me I was "so beautiful." Almost all my great uncles have passed now. When my uncle Al died years ago is I think when my aunt Lenie slowly started to leave us, too, mentally. I know it was painful for Abuela to watch her sister slip away. This morning my aunt Lenie finally went home to be with the Lord, and my uncle Al. I'm so sad she's gone.