When I was a kid, nothing created as much excitement as a visit from Aunt Alice.
My mother, who was Aunt Alice’s much younger sister, would announce her impending visit sometime in the afternoon.
And the countdown began.
Aunt Alice always visited late at night, never during the day.
One of the reasons for the flutter of excitement was that we could stay up late—way past our normal bedtime. I can remember sitting on the living room couch ready for bed, in my pajamas, waiting for the arrival of the fabled Aunt.
And soon she would arrive—in a taxi! Talk about drama and excitement! Virtually no one we knew, even our parents, ever rode in a taxi.
She would enter the room and I would be mesmerized by her exotic appearance. She was tiny, less than five feet tall, and wore a lot of makeup. Her hair was shoulder length and as black as a raven. She wore her hair in a 40’s vintage hair style, a modified pompadour in front and curled under in back, secured with tortoise shell combs. She had ruby red lips, and two dramatic “beauty marks,” one placed just so on her chin and the other under her eye. Her clothes looked like party clothes and she wore jangly earrings, bracelets, and high heels.
She didn’t look like anyone’s mother—although she was married and had two daughters, Marie and Barbara Ann. Barbara Ann, who was very quiet and not as exotic as her mother, usually accompanied her on these nocturnal visits. Barbara Ann was older than us—we were little kids, and she was a teenager. Like her mother, Barbara Ann was dark and seemed to have an aura of mystery. (Later when I became an adult, I got to know her better and found her to be a warm and loving woman who resembled my Mom.)
Aunt Alice was always happy to see us and would compliment Mom on our manners and looks.
After the hellos, we were allowed to have whatever treat Mom had baked for Aunt Alice’s visit—and then we went to bed.
I would lie awake wondering about this Aunt who was so unlike my other aunts.
Was she a Gypsy? Where was she when she wasn’t at our house? Who was her husband? (I actually didn’t meet him until I was much older.) Why did she wear so much makeup? Why did she have those beauty marks? Why was Barbara Ann so quiet? Did Barbara Ann go to school? Did she live with Aunt Alice? Why did they ride in taxis? Were they both Gypsies?
They often stayed until after midnight, when Dad would return from his shift at Bethlehem Steel Plant. Soon after that, he would drive Aunt Alice and Barbara Ann home.
And I would dream of the next visit from Aunt Alice.
I had an “Aunt Mazie”. She actually was my Dad’s cousin, but we did not know the details. She had jet black hair and wore it in a bun at the nape of her neck. She put beautiful combs in her hair on the sides whenever she went out. She never married, but devoted her life to caring for her aunts and uncles that lived in the brownstone in the Bronx. As kids, we could go and talk to her about anything and she would always keep our confidences. She would have been the best Mom! We loved her so much!
Lucy Patricia
Yes, I had an “Aunt Alice” except her name was Tante Shirley (Hebrew for Aunt) and she was the Auntie Mame of our generation. Never knew what would come out of her mouth but she was loved and full of life. Thanks for the memory Kathy.
I had an Aunt Alice too, my Aunt Elizabeth, my mother’s younger sister. I always thought she was the most exotic relative I had in my large German family – dangled earrings, high heels, lots of make up, bright colored clothing, house decorated beautifully – always telling stories of having traveled to some far off place . . . She loved dirty jokes – even at an older age . . . I still laugh many times when I think about some of our conversations!
She forever left an impression on my life and lived to be almost 100. I think her sense of humor kept her going more years than most!
A wonderful remembrance.
She sure sounded like a riot! I had an Aunt Rose – she was nutty and fun! She was my God-Mother and my middle name is Bonnie Rose, after her!
Thanks for sharing this.
I unfortunately had no such aunt or other relative. You all are very lucky to have had one. I’m hoping that when I visit with my grandkids, they feel that way about me.
I was blessed with six aunts! –all sisters of my mother. I guess if I had to choose one, my aunt Red was the most worldly. My aunt Berbie had been an Army nurse in France during WWII but didn’t compare in a little girl’s opinion to Aunt Red, who always wore high heels and took a taxi to and from work at the phone company.
How neat! I’d love to know about Aunt Berbie, too. Love the name,Aunt Red–did she have red hair?
Thank you so much for sharing this. May grandmother Alice and I were very close and I have the fondest memories of her. The physical appearance you described her to a tee, I would often dress up in her clothes & heels since they would almost fit me and she would take me to the store and buy our snacks that we would eat while watching TV. She would always let me stay up late at night when she watched me and would have the funniest stories to share. I hope my grandchildren have the beautiful memories of me that I have of my grandmother. Thank you Kathy.
Maureen, I know how much you loved your Grandmother. You were a devoted and loving granddaughter. Glad you liked it.