My Great Great Aunt Ruth died on Good Friday. This July 4 would have been her 100th birthday. She almost made it to 100–she was sure planning on living that long. But she missed Uncle Charlie. And after being married over sixty years, who could blame her for finding the last seven years without him the longest in her long life?

I’m glad I got to see her again a year and a half ago. She and Uncle Charlie were the only great-great relatives I ever knew. And she may have been 98, but she could still play the piano better than most, and knew more songs by heart than anyone I know. You’d start to ask her if she could remember a certain tune…and she’d play “Try to Remember.” Song after song, instantaneously, by heart. That was Aunt Ruth.

I’d forgotten about my last conversation with Aunt Ruth, until a friend reminded me I’d written about it. On our last visit to New Mexico, I’d told Aunt Ruth about Merritt, and shown her pictures. And she’d told me over and again about Uncle Charlie, and what a good husband he was.

I didn’t get to visit her again the next year, because, like she (and I) had hoped, Merritt and I were married by that time. I’ll have to leave it to my cousin Melissa to carry on Aunt Ruth’s talent of making beautiful music. But someday, Lord willing, I’ll tell my great-great grand nieces and nephews about my wonderful husband. And our family’s tradition of long and happy marriages…