Things My Aunt Taught Me
There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief…and unspeakable love.
–Washington Irving
Things My Aunt Taught Me
how to accept a compliment graciously
how to swaddle a baby doll in a blanket
how to scratch around a scab so you don’t make it bleed
how to throw a baseball like a boy
how to play skully on the kitchen floor on a rainy day
how to keep your mouth shut and when to open it
how to spend a muggy summer night on the stoop of the house in Brooklyn
how to soothe a headache with two aspirin and a cool cloth on your forehead
the grace of a hand holding a cigarette
the beauty of lined skin
how to die
how to grieve
how to live anyway
Ann Paganelli
July 7, 1934 – September 19, 2012
Uncle Bob, me and Aunty Ann, 1967
This is Not My Narrative 
September 26, 2012 at 8:47 pm
This is great. She was a wonderful , caring woman with a lot of knowledge. She will be missed. Xoxoxo
September 26, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Speechless!!!! What beautiful true words…She really blessed everyone who knew her.
September 27, 2012 at 2:46 am
I love you, Liz. Thank you for such beautiful words.
September 27, 2012 at 2:52 am
Thank you Liz.
September 27, 2012 at 2:57 am
Thank you for sharing her, Joni. Love you.
September 28, 2012 at 11:29 pm
This blog just gets better and better. You need to publish your diss and then collect these posts and publish them too. When are you going to do a podcast with Scout and Honey? Do you want to go to dinner on Thursday with me and Kelly at Claudio’s? We miss you so much!
October 1, 2012 at 11:25 am
Liz , that’s beautiful, my mom sure left her mark on all of us didn’t she…….