when you know.

Just before Thanksgiving, my mom told me that my aunt (her oldest sister) had just found out that her cancer had begun to spread all throughout her body and that she probably wouldn't have much more time left to live...maybe 6 months or so. When she told me, I wasn't sure what to do with the information.

I just talked to my mom and she said they had to take my aunt to a hospice care facility today. Her whole family was there, waiting to hear what was going on. What happened to the 6 months?

Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my Aunt Ginny. She's 13 years older than my mom and helped raise my mom (there were 8 kids) and definitely served as a surrogate grandmother for me. My grandmother died when I was pretty young and was sick most of the time that I remember her. I used to go to school with Aunt Ginny and help get her classroom set up every summer (she was a teacher)...I always looked up to her. She would give me all of her old teaching materials so that I could go back to my house and "teach" my stuffed animals.

So, all of this...I don't know what to do with it.

The beautiful thing about this Thanksgiving is that I was able to spend it with her. My dad, mom and I went to my cousin's house and had Thanksgiving dinner with their whole family. It may be the last time I ever see my Aunt Ginny. What do I do with that?