My mother’s older sister died this week. Their relationship over nearly 80 years ranged from outright hostility to cautious amity, settling on, I think, distant but sincere goodwill. In spite of everything, there’s a real gap when someone who was your sister that long is gone.
My aunt was also largely estranged from her two children, especially her daughter, which made choosing sympathy cards difficult. I settled on the blandest, “Praying for you at this difficult time,” and figured it’s mostly the fact of sending it that counts.
I don’t send cards. I’d guess I haven’t sent a card for any reason, including Christmas, for over 15 years. I suppose I’m bad.
My mother was a comic genius for crafting homemade cards. I do that on occasion. Not for condolences, of course.