Thursday, November 9, 2017
I have many fond memories of Margaret. She was the Niece to my Grandmother - Pauline Abken (aka: Lena or 2 moms). I remember having tea parties and splashing around in the kitty swimming pool over at my Grandmother's house in San Bernardino, with Margaret's daughters Elizabeth and little Lisa visiting (before she passed), and son John when I was very young. I was very young. I think I must have been about 7 years old or so. I still have black and white photographs of all of us and those pictures warm up a sacred childhood place deep inside my heart. Margaret showed a very strong physical resemblance to my Grandmother Pauline in many ways. After all, her Dad was my Grandmother's brother. No wonder it was no surprise how much they looked alike. It was beautiful! Their facial features, posture, and size was very much alike in my opinion. I remember it always feeling easy and comfortable for me to be around Margaret. Just like my Grandma Pauline, Margaret was also a sweet, easy going woman who loved children and never seemed to mind all us kids fluttering around Grandmother's kitchen. I remember Margaret smiling a lot. I remember seeing a glistening in her face, the smile lines around her eyes, as she sat at my Grandma's kitchen table on warm summer days. I knew that they both missed my Uncle Mackie, and I remember the two of them sharing a special bond, protectiveness, and connection with one another. My Grandma was always so glad to see Margaret come visit. She loved her so much. Now as an adult looking back on that time during the 1970s, I realize some of the struggles she was carrying. She was loved and cared about so much. These are the memories I have of her. I am thankful to have known her and to have had these sweet experiences of her as a child and the time spent together and memories with her children too. May God bless the family and comfort her children in their loss.
