This was such a lovely read @denmarkguy! Your aunt sounds like a wise and wonderful woman too!

I drew so many parallels in reading this - relating to both myself as well as Jude.

My parents were also absent for most of my growing up years, but it was due to what I would probably describe as "social jet setting" lol - rather than actual jet setting. They were both always very preoccupied with their personal lives and "fixing them" I guess. I suppose this probably had something to do with their rather ugly divorce and the nasty gash it left in everyone's lives - including theirs.

For that reason, I don't have "quite" as many fond childhood memories of time spent with my mom as Jude got with her as a grandmother and as you had with your aunt - but being able to see him have it, was enough.

The two of them used to "sit and see" a lot too, in the early hours of the morning. I would often wake up and find the two of them outside in the distance, Jude on her lap. They would watch the birds and nature in general. My mom eventually bought Jude a pair of binoculars for those moments together and she then began to teach him about all the different birds.

Above all, it has been the "sitting and seeing" that has gotten me through the rough patches in my life.

I have to agree with that. The value in making time for simple reflection is enormously underrated.

When I was quite little, she was pretty much the only member of my extended family (and some of my parents' friends) who didn't think it was "a problem" that I was quiet and not a wild kid always "getting into stuff."

This made me think of Jude straight away! I was the wild problem child as you already know well, lol - but Jude has always been the complete opposite. Such a gentle, quite and very deep soul. I used to get so annoyed at people "judging" that aspect of his character.

Mostly, though, she just wanted to live a peaceful life and mostly keep to herself, away from the hustle, bustle and stress of the world.

I'll take that too! :D

x