As a child, Aunt Lee was always there for me. She was always just a phone call away anytime I needed her. And, there are many aspects of my adult life and the man I am today that I can credit to her influence. My broadcasting career started in the school where she was an assistant principal. When I would come to visit she would let me sit on the counter by the intercom and call different rooms by flipping the switches and talking into the microphone. My love of photography and photographic eye came from her as well. She purchased my first camera for me (and many subsequent cameras as well) and she taught me how to properly compose a shot and about the mechanics of photography as well as the art. My love of travel was also greatly influenced by Aunt Lee. As I was growing up she made it a point to take me on many trips (always with camera in hand) and we went to exciting places: Colonial Williamsburg, Amish country in Pennsylvania, etc. My first train ride was with her on the Strassbourg Railroad and ever since then I have been in love with train travel. She retired from the school system when I was relatively young, and spent the rest of her life traveling the world. And, she would always return with souvenirs and trinkets from the many places she traveled. We would look at her photos together and she would tell stories about the different things she had brought home and I would imagine getting to travel to some of those far-off places. And, even in recent years we were able to share stories about our travels to the same locations. She even visited Moscow before the end of the cold war. And now, I write this while sitting in my Moscow apartment. Who would have ever imagined?
She loved books and literature and had a special love for children's books, which she shared with me. Her favorite children's author was A.A. Milne and many hours of my childhood were spent having conversations with Pooh, Piglet and the rest of the gang as she voiced the characters from the other end of the phone.
I remember helping set up her first computer, a Commodore 128, if you can believe. She wanted to embrace and learn that technology as quickly as she could. And, as computers advanced and email became accessible to everyone, Aunt Lee became the queen of the E-Card. There was never a birthday, holiday or family event where my inbox was not flooded with E-cards when I awoke.
Aunt Lee was always willing to share one of my favorite meals with me... steamed Maryland blue crabs. And when I came home, a crab feast with her was always on the agenda. She even participated in several crab feasts that we threw for my high school buddies.
I could spend countless hours recalling the many stories and important moments of my life that she was involved in. But I guess the thing that I will remember most about my Aunt Lee is that she was my biggest fan. If I did it, then (to her) it was wonderful.
So, today I am sad. I will miss her very much. And, I suppose for the last time... To Eel, from Cram.
Blessings,
Marc
