I'm at the airport on my way to my Aunt Geri's memorial/homegoing service. Today would have been her birthday. Even when death is expected it catches us by surprise. Hers wasn't expected yet. It's like a black magic trick. It feels cruel. My Aunt was a nurse for over 40 years. We often went into a foreign language medicalese huddle our families didn't understand. She was my other Mom, the one you told things to you couldn't tell your Mom. I think she piqued my love of travel. She lived in Europe, Japan, and travelled extensively. And perhaps my first real international trip to China was because she brought me pearl earrings, studs, from Beijing. The last time I talked to her 2 weeks ago, I told her & texted her "I love you so much." The clinical/logical/medical people we were, that was the first time I told her I loved her. Maybe we both knew she was about to go on her greatest adventure, returning home. #abracadabra #homegoingservices #memorialservice #myfavoriteaunt #mysecondmother #geristewart