My mom stopped by my house on her way home from work today. She wanted to tell me in person that my Aunt Esther passed away. She's my paternal grandmother's younger sister. She would have been 85 next week. In August 1985 my maternal grandmother passed away suddenly. In April 1986 my paternal grandmother passed away suddenly. My Aunt Esther adopted us shortly there after. We still went to visit her every year like we did my Grandma. She has told me so many stories about my Grandma. I was 10 when I lost my grandmas. I was 10 when my parents became orphans. I have alway felt so robbed and cheated by my loss. About 10 years ago my sister and I started noticing some strange behavior in my Aunt Esther, very repetitive stories and other early Alzheimer symptoms. It took her family a couple more years to see what we were seeing. She did not have Alzheimer's, she was diagnosed with dementia. They figured that some ingredient in the half a valium she took every day for 30 years was causing some kind of brain degeneration causing Alzheimer like symptoms. When my dad spoke to his cousin, Gaylen, he found out she was in a lot of pain and suffering from bed sores. My cousin was actually praying for her to pass and I'm glad that she's no longer in pain. It just hurts because she's the last thing I have that is remotely like a grandparent to me, by blood relation. Her funeral is Saturday morning, she passed last night, got to love small towns. I honestly don't think I can force myself to make the 6 hour drive back Louisiana between my IBS and my anxiety.