But I do have those shark's teeth, kept in a little pill bottle tucked away in my dresser drawer with other various odds and ends for all these years. And lots of happy memories of days spent at the beach, hunting for sea shells and shark's teeth in the sand, swimming in the ocean, riding bikes with my cousins, and going to summer afternoon matinees at the local theater. We had so much fun, and Aunt Ruth made me feel very important because I was the oldest of the kids and could look after my younger cousins. Actually, looking back, I realized that the youngest cousin was just a baby and probably Aunt Ruth was happy to have me there to occupy and entertain the two older boys so she could take care of the baby. But no matter, I was having a great time!
While I was there visiting, Aunt Ruth also made some lovely clothes for my Barbie Doll, who was brand new at that time. This is the same doll, wearing one of the dresses Aunt Ruth made for her. This Barbie will be 60 years old in September when I have my 70th birthday. I received her from my grandparents for my 10th birthday. She isn't in mint condition or else she would be quite valuable for collectors. But she is worth far more than money to me, as I have many memories attached to playing with my other cousin Becky and her Barbie doll and our home-made Barbie doll houses that we created ourselves during our summer breaks while staying with her at my other aunt's house, Aunt Marion. (Who was also Aunt Ruth's older sister, and my father's older sister!) But that's another story for another day.
What made me think about the shark's teeth this week in particular was that the wife of one of my cousins posted a picture on Facebook of the collection of shark's teeth that she and her grandchildren were collecting while on vacation at the same beach. Life has a way of coming full circle...my cousin's grandchildren are collecting shark's teeth on the same beach some sixty years after he and I did the same thing as children. The only sad part is, my cousin isn't there to watch his grandchildren play in the surf and sand like he did as a child. No, he isn't there because sadly he passed away several years ago from the ravages of Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. "Billy" was only 50 years old.
But this story gets even worse than that, very sadly.
Not only did my younger cousin Billy pass away at a very early age from such a horrible disease, but so did his mother, my dear Aunt Ruth. My last memory of Aunt Ruth was at my grandmother's funeral. I wanted to talk to her about some of my happy memories from my summertime visits at her house. It became painfully obvious that not only could she not remember the happy times I was talking about, but I really don't think she had a clue as to who I was. She was in the early stages of Early Onset Alzheimer's at that time, although they did not know what it was then. It was not too much longer before she had to be put into a nursing facility, where she remained until her death a few years later. Aunt Ruth was only 64 when she passed away.
But it didn't stop there. My other two remaining cousins also succumbed to the same dreaded disease, the youngest cousin, Linda, was only 53 when she passed away, and the oldest of the three cousins, Bobby, also passed away when he was 63 from the same disease.
The only picture that I can readily find that has each of my cousins in it is this one, taken in 1969, with all of my paternal family cousins except for my oldest brother, who was away in the Air Force at the time. In this picture, my grandparents are standing in the center, and their grandchildren and three great grandchildren and a couple of "in-law grandchildren" are all together for a family reunion. (I wonder if you can pick me out of the group? This was taken about a month before I got married, and my hubby- to-be is standing next to me.) I won't try to pick out the others for you, but they were all there, probably one of the only times that I remember all our cousins together at once.
A month later some of this part of the family gathered again for our wedding. My Aunt Ruth is the 2nd from the right, her husband (Uncle Stu) is next to her, and her youngest child Linda is in front. My dear Aunt Marion is on the right end, and grandparents in the middle, and my uncle Stu's mother is on the far left.
I just don't have many pictures of my Aunt Ruth, but here is a favorite one of three special ladies:
My Aunt Marion is in front on the left, my mother is on the back, and Aunt Ruth is on the right. This was about the time my parents got married, and this picture was taken at my dad's family cabin in the Cook's Forest of Pennsylvania.
As far as "collections" go, I have these three German beer steins that my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Stu brought back to my grandparents from Germany, when they were over there in the service many years ago. Apparently my Dad got them from my grandparent's estate, and I received them from my Dad's estate. The pictures depict the different sides of each stein, to show the different pictures on them.
Don't ask my what the words are. I have no clue.
To sum this up, genetic research is ongoing regarding the fact that my aunt and all three of her children suffered the same fate with Early Onset Alzheimer's disease. There is now concern for the children of my cousins, whether or not they will also end up with the same disease. In the meantime, we pray for a cure.
I didn't intend for this post to end up on a sad note. But I guess I had to share their story so you would understand why that little pill bottle full of shark's teeth meant so much to me.
Hear the words of the prophet Isaiah 49:13-16
13. "Sing, O heavens!
Be joyful, O earth!
And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people,
and will have mercy on His afflicted.
14. But Zion said, 'The LORD has forgotten me,
and my Lord has forgotten me."
15. "Can a woman forget her nursing child,
and not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
16. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me."
