Vi was one of my favorite aunts. She was my mum’s younger sister but looked on first glance to be older. She had silvery gold hair spun as thin as cotton candy and set on a vivid pink skull. She had a wizened chin, rounded at the end like a small doughnut. And when she smiled, her jaws caved in thanks to ill-fitting dentures. But her eyes twinkled with the mischief of a sixteen year old. Vi quickly changed the subject back to things meteorological.
“I bet the weather’s all lovely where you are, Denis, ay? Ay? In America, isn’t it, Denis? Like in the pictures, innit? Hollywood. Lovely. Love it over there, don’t you, Denis?”
I had never lived in Hollywood, or in California for that matter, but when Vi thought of America, she thought of sunshine and glamour and excitement. I suppose anywhere in America was a kind of Hollywood back-lot, if you had not been there.
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2 months ago
8 comments:
She sounds like such a dear! I love aunties!
Wow, that's quite a description of your aunt. My Moms older sister Betty was my favorite.
It's funny the perception people have of different places. A lot of people think of Canada (where I was born) as being a land of snowbound Eskimos. :-)
It's funny what comes to peoples' minds when they think of certain places.
I'm from Texas - what do you think as soon as your hear 'Texas'?
I do remember thinking that all Americans lived in those Brady Bunch type houses with the sunken living rooms and the pool in the back. Which is hilarious given that I live in a Victorian row house in downtown Chicago!!!
Maggie--yes, my aunts were quite the characters! Still make me smile.
parTea lady: I'm so pleased my memory of my aunt Vi reminded you of your favorite aunt! Canada hmmm... moose?
Amy--that's an easy one: steak, of course!
ExpatMum: my strongest memory of American TV was that people left the house without pullovers! I couldn't believe that.
What a delightfully old fashioned view of America!
Good morning Denis, your aunt Vi's description sounds like my aunt Lili's. Just stopped by to wish you a lovely week.
Duchess
I laughed out loud when I read the section of Kate's car seat and your parents being squashed by it!!! It brought to mind the car seat my youngest grandson has in the back seat of his dad's sporty car. It reminded me of the Enterprise's control panel. The car has 2 bucket seats in front--Dad and Mum sat in front. The Little commander's seat sat smack in the middle of the back of the car. Plump granny (me :)) was crushed by the side window behind Mum but attempting to retrieve objects (baby bottles, sippy cups, stuffed animals) that the LC would forcefully throw on the floor.
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