Sunday 1 April 2012

Storytelling Sunday 2: The Words The Pictures

Welcome to Storytelling Sunday! It's the first day of April - are we going to hear some tall tales today? No time to waste, we'd better get started and find out..

My story is a true one. A sequel to last month's yarn about my aunt and her supply of teddy bears. It goes like this:

Smoke Got in my Eyes

Once upon a time (as some of you already know) I had an aunt called Ed. Ed was an excellent kind of aunt to have, even though my school friends refused to believe that she existed ("you can't have an aunt called Ed, she must be your uncle"). But she lived far away and we hardly ever saw her and this was a pity. She was a bit racier than the kind of aunt we were used to on the other side of the family. In her youth she had enjoyed riding about on the sidecar of my dad's motorbike; and she liked a visit to bingo, followed by a quick nip of whisky. Her indulgences (and the other side believed there were many) ranged from filling her bath completely full (what a waste of hot water) to using tinned potatoes (we only have fresh here). Personally, I love a big bath and I'm a fan of potato in any form. Top of the list, though? She smoked.

Anyway, one day, when Auntie Ed was in her eighties and suffering very badly with arthritis, she phoned, right out of the blue, to say she was coming for one last visit. Her plane ticket was booked and could we pick her up from the airport, half past three, Monday. There's lovely. (She was Welsh.) We ran about getting ready, making essential preparations for the arrival of one very sick, but very feisty, old lady. What was the first thing I bought? An ash tray, of course.

So, she arrived. And we had a wonderful time. I drove her about in my new car, that week. She admired it greatly, even though the low seats probably made her uncomfortable. She stroked the badge and asked me if I could maybe go a little bit faster, really let the engine roar?

And then Auntie Ed went home.

Auntie Edna, with me. On an earlier visit
Of course, some time after that we got the call we had all been dreading. Auntie Ed had passed away and we were very sad. I was thinking about her the next morning as I unlocked that car and got in. I drove down the street and I kept on thinking about her and suddenly, suddenly, I could smell cigarette smoke. It was all around me, filling up my nose and settling into my sweater; and there was nowhere it could possibly have come from. The road was empty and the vents were closed. I breathed deeply and what came to me was Ed's raucous laugh and her wildly generous nature. I looked again to see where the cigarette smell could be coming from. But there was nobody there. Or maybe there was. You decide.

And that's my story for this month. Have you got one to share? Of course you have! A photo and a few words (or maybe the few words without the photo?) or something a bit longer. I love them all! Create your post with an introduction (so your readers know what's going on) and a link back here and come on over. The linky stays open all week, so if your story isn't ready for Sunday - no worries!

The small print - which I'm not making small because I would like you to read it. I firmly believe we are telling stories in the round here. One person starts and then turns to the next. You can't do it in isolation. So I'm asking everyone who adds a link to say hello to at least a couple of the other storytellers. To make this even easier, how about turning off word verification, just for today. Please think about it. Now, let's read..

50 comments:

Jimjams said...

Spooky! Beautifully told as ever - she sounds like the aunt I would like to become! TFS

Miriam said...

She was there alright... Another wonderful story from you Sian.

Beverly said...

Oh I believe she was with you, I have had and still do have wonderful moments like that.

Maria Ontiveros said...

I adore your story Sian and completely believe in ghosts or spirits or angels or whatever you want to call them. I love you Aunt Ed stories!
My Story is set to go "live" in a few hours, as it's till Saturday evening here.
Rinda

Melissa said...

What a wonderfully told story & fantastic memories of your aunt!

Susan said...

Great story.

Mary B said...

Wonderful to have such an Aunt as Ed and for her to leave you in such a momentous way.

This West London Life said...

I believe she was there with you, as I've had a similar experience myself.

helena said...

Hope I'm still flying places in my 80s. As always, your narrative voice makes me want to sit in a circle by firelight and listen.

Missus Wookie said...

Whatever caused the visitation I am so grateful you experienced it and also shared your Aunt Ed. Wonderful woman that she was :)

Alana said...

Lovely story Sian. Did you check the ashtray didn't have one of her cigerettes in still? Great memories though.

Clare said...

What a great story. Aunt Ed sounds like the best fun (just how they should be I think!)Who knows where the smell came from - but whatever the source it brought her memory back to you which is the important thing...

Rhona said...

What a lovey story, I believe Aunt Ed was along for them ride with you that day :) x

debs14 said...

She was most definitely with you Sian. What a great story and how lovely that families are filled with many different types of characters. She was obviously one of your favourites and I bet she loved her last visit with you.

Scattychick said...

That is one of those moments when the impossible becomes probable :) Glad you got to have a visit with her one last time Sian x

Jane said...

what a wonderful story Sian :)

scrappyjacky said...

What an evocative story,Sian....all families need at least one 'character'.

Alison said...

Your Aunt Ed sounds a bit like my Godmother..the world needs such characters..and I'm sure she was just letting you know that she had settled down nicely in the afterlife!
Alison xx

Unknown said...

Families would be very dull without a few characters. It is often the case that they are also the ones with hearts of gold. She sounds like a fab lady!

Unknown said...

Families would be very dull without a few characters. It is often the case that they are also the ones with hearts of gold. She sounds like a fab lady!

Julie J said...

Oooh that's given me goosebumps. Did you know that the sense of smell is one most associated with emotion and can evoke strong memories.

Lynn said...

A great memory well told - I'm sure she was in that car with you.

Cheri said...

Yes there was someone there with you - just letting you know she was okay. And wanting one more ride with you!

Kelli said...

that's crazy, however I totally believe in moments like that...heck I believe in divine moments when you can resource the smell even...it was bringing you back to a memory. nice. thanks for sharing your love of stories with the world friend!

Anonymous said...

Oh Sian, I often smell my Gran around the house....love your story. Will pass around everyone else's later today when we're back from our walk.....

Scrappi Sandi said...

I love this story Sian...& I can hear the Welsh lilt in the 'There's Lovely'!! Just to say that my linky thing didn't show my post title for some reason, just my blog address link...not sure how that happened!! :D

Lou said...

Aunt Ed sounds perfect! lovely story Sian.

I've posted but have no idea if my word verification is on or off...I thought i turned it off a while back....maybe you could let me know.thank you.

JO SOWERBY said...

i love the stories about auntie ed. she sounds like an amazing woman. i am sure she was there with u that day in ur car laughing away and smoking her naughty ciggie.
jo xxx

Mel said...

She sounds like a fab aunt. I hope to be the irreverent aunt in my family - although i don't smoke, nor do I use tinned potatoes. I wonder if giving them a sugar high with my baking and telling them stories of all my exes will be enough to fit the bill!! TFS a great story!

Lizzie said...

How good of Aunty Ed to let you know she's okay. Made me cry... I so miss my aunty too.
I have heard others tell similar stories about special people in their lives. Why wouldn't they want to come and reassure us, if they could?
How lovely to have such great memories of your Aunt. And stories to share with others and remember all your life!

Becky said...

What a lovely story - thank you for sharing it and I love the photo :)

Julie Kirk said...

I'm certain I'd have loved Aunt Ed too. She sounds very familiar!
Smell is such a powerful storyteller and whether it was telling a supernatural tale that day, or just a scientific trick of your brain ... it's no less fascinating!

:-)

Ginger said...

yup - I'm certain she was right there with you! she had the right view of life, it's too short to not have fun! I hope if I'm not all with it when I'm that age someone makes sure I get a splash of whiskey!

Carmen said...

Another goosebumper of a story. I love this and know what I choose to believe - have had similar experiences that I believe wholeheartedly too.

Jo said...

That is such a lovely story Sian and the same thing happened to me. My dad was a scaffolder and when scaffolders finish work for the day they have a certain smell, anyone who knows a scaff will know the smell, it's sort of dusty. One day I was in my car thinking of my dad who died 5 years ago and I could smell, so very strongly, a scaffolder in the car with me but there was nobody else there! x

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Ah! I do love a story like this, Sian! And something tells me your dear Auntie Ed is hanging around today enjoying your story telling Sunday as much as the rest of us do. ;o) xo

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

What a wonderful sort of Aunt to have. I love that a full bath is a wild & reckless thing to do. :)

Amanda said...

Great story Sian I've heard of lots of similar experiences. How lovely that she was able to make that last trip to see you she obviously enjoyed it and fancied another spin in your car.

Miss Smith said...

She sounds like a wonderful lady. It's important to have some racier relatives, and I'm glad you have good memories of her.

alexa said...

Aunt Ed sounds wonderful, Sian! And I don't doubt that somehow you and she connected in your car - how lovely that you both did. It must have given her great pleasure to be driven by you! Beautifully told and I am sure she'd be thrilled. :)

Ifa said...

wooo...spoooky. Thank you, I have enjoyed your story today. Sorry, I haven't got one to share this time.

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

What a wonderful person Aunt Ed was to have in your life. Beautifully told as always. Sorry I'm late visiting and have no story of my own this month. Will endeavour to visit everyone though, as and when the opportunity arises :o)

Gem's Crafts said...

How lovely that you got one last visit with your Aunt, and the smell of smoke is very spooky!

Karen said...

If there was an Aunt Ed in my family, I never got to meet her. Mine were all quite staid and traditional--though lovely. As always I enjoyed Storytelling Sunday as I made the rounds to my blogging friends.

furrypig said...

another great story Sian, Aunt Ed sounds like a blast! You have some great memories xxx

laurie said...

what a wonderful story! i don't doubt for a minute that she wasn't there with you that day you smelled smoke, urging you to go just a bit faster! even though i have not participated in storytelling sunday, i have loved reading everyone's tales and will someday write down a few of my own.

Lisa said...

A super story and told in Such a vivid way that I almost believed I was in the car with you. Super.

Lisa-Jane said...

That's the kind of aunt I like!

Sandra said...

I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes ... Happy tears. Sian oh I so believe she was with you xx

Alana said...

I'm a bit late Sian. but I made it.

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