HAPPY AUNTIE'S DAY!
Dear Ones —
Today — July 27 — is the 6th annual international Auntie's Day.
This holiday was founded by the great Melanie Notkin, who established the day in 2009 to honor and celebrate all the wonderful aunts in the world. (Cleverly, she divides the category of aunts into "aunts by relation" and "aunts by choice" — which is a sweet gesture for those of us who love our friends' children so much that we consider them family, as well.)
As Melanie puts it: "Aunthood Is a Gift. This Day Is Ours."
Those of you who have read my book COMMITTED know that I am a fierce advocate of what I call "The Auntie Brigade" — the army of childless (or child-free, if by choice) women across history who have helped to adore, spoil, educate and sometimes even raise the children of the world.
If you would like to read more about Auntie's Day, check out this article Melanie wrote recently about it:
And if you want to go even further, check out Melanie's two books on the subject: SAVVY AUNTIE, and OTHERHOOD.
Lastly, let's all take a moment to give some love to our favorite aunts. I am blessed with so many of them, so let me list my gratitude to them all:
THANK YOU TO:
AUNT LOLLY — for being the person I would most like to someday become.
AUNT NANCY — for bringing nonstop wit and irreverence to my childhood.
AUNT DEBBIE — for modeling for me my earliest example of a career woman.
AUNT MARIE — for that summer at the lake, and for all the ice cream bars.
AUNT HELEN — for her sassiness and strength, and for letting us play with Barbies all day.
AUNT MARY JO — for her dignity.
AUNT CAROL — for her example of selfless service and compassion.
AUNT DEB — for the gift of opera, and the unapologetic childlessness.
AUNT LUANA — for her laughter, her beauty, and (especially at this moment in her life) her courage.
I love you all.
And now I'm gonna go spend the day with my niece…
HAPPY AUNTIE'S DAY!
Heart,
LG
