On a Sunday morning in late April 2018, I received a text from one of my husband’s few female cousins: “Auntie Shirley is at church and she’s had an accident.
Your Aunt Shirley is someone I would have loved to meet. I am personallyl fascinated to learn of the family connections to the Red River Valley and Metis lineage because of my own research project and I'm curious about the books referenced. I recently enjoyed reading Chris LaTray's memoir BECOMING LITTLE SHELL (His substack is The Irritiable Metis and he is the Montana poet laureate). Thanks for writing your tribute to Aunt Shirley.
I'll have to check out Chris LaTray's memoir—thanks. I think you're right that you would definitely have liked meeting Auntie Shirley. She was a character.
This is a wonderful article. I loved reading it. So many women of my generation did not pursue higher education because they were female. And so many who were career women chose not to marry. "Not fair."
Just so lovely!
Lovely, Debby. Thank you.
Thanks, Connie.
Your Aunt Shirley is someone I would have loved to meet. I am personallyl fascinated to learn of the family connections to the Red River Valley and Metis lineage because of my own research project and I'm curious about the books referenced. I recently enjoyed reading Chris LaTray's memoir BECOMING LITTLE SHELL (His substack is The Irritiable Metis and he is the Montana poet laureate). Thanks for writing your tribute to Aunt Shirley.
I'll have to check out Chris LaTray's memoir—thanks. I think you're right that you would definitely have liked meeting Auntie Shirley. She was a character.
Thank you fir sharing your family in a vivid, personal way.
What a spark she had. I love “another side of me.” If anyone ever has to clean my bum, I’ll have to remember that line.
She was a writer herself, so I know she'd be tickled to think you were using her line!
This is a wonderful article. I loved reading it. So many women of my generation did not pursue higher education because they were female. And so many who were career women chose not to marry. "Not fair."
Shirley got the short end of the stick, but she sure made a difference despite that. And what else can we ask for, right? That we made a difference.
Lovely tribute for a very special woman! I enjoyed reading about this interesting lady’s history.
Thanks, Susan! (I so appreciate your feedback!)