Aunty Magic (500 Words)

One of my greatest pleasures in life is being an aunty. For me, it is more than a title. It is a calling. Some are built to be mothers. Me, child-free by choice, I was meant to be an aunty. My six-year-old niece Ana calls me Aunty Magic. That is what I strive to do as an Aunty. I am responsible for the magic moments. I might not be there for the everyday moments. But I like to bring magic to the moments I share with my nieces and nephews.

I want my nieces and nephews to say, “My aunty is crazy!” That’s right! I love them all so much that I am not ashamed to be a bit crazy when doing things to make them feel special. That is what my aunts did for me. I always felt loved, cherished, adored. They still make me feel that way. With my aunts in my corner, I never feel alone. But one incredibly special aunty has truly blessed my life.

From the moment I took my first breath, she has been by me, for me, with me. Every human should have someone who loves them so completely, so unconditionally. The world would be a much brighter place if we ALL had an “Aunty Terry.” I know my life would not be the same without her constant presence and unwavering support.

She is the one I turn to when I want to cry, to laugh, to grieve, to celebrate. She is the second on my speed dial (only after my husband). And she will drop whatever she is doing to chat with me for hours on the phone. She not only listens to my words. She can hear my heart. She will pick up the phone if you call her at 2 am without hesitation or irritation, eager to help with any emergency that would prompt an early morning call. There is no judgement on the other end of the line, just lots of love and worry. She always knows what to say and when to say it.

She turns mundane moments into blessed experiences. She created bonds between me and my cousins that will last a lifetime—from Jack Wada movie marathon weekends (just don’t eat on the couch), to fishing the cliffs at Mahaulepu (still amazed none of us fell in), to late-night runs to Hamura Saimin or early-morning runs to Lappert’s (don’t tell Uncle Warren). When she was not driving us around in her big white Aerostar van (caravan of craziness), she always left the light on and a key hidden, so we all had a safe place to go. She still does…

She is my lifetime cheerleader, always on the sidelines, cheering on the good plays and booing the bad calls of life…She is everything you could ever want in an aunty. She definitely is my crazy aunty. She taught me how to be an aunty. She is the reason I have magic. She is MY Aunty Magic.