At Last

Looking back, I realize now how lucky I was to have had several strong and wonderful female influences in my life. My mom, of course, and a grandmother with whom I am especially close. I also had not one but two tantes. What image is conjured up by this antiquated, foreign word for ‘aunt’? Is she squat and rotund? Long grey hair in a bun? Funny Yiddish accent? My tantes were none of those things, though come to think of it, one did have shiny, silver hair and the other wore her long honey-coloured tresses in a bun.

My tantes were like my fairy godmothers. They lived in the city (Los Angeles) and loved me just for being me.

My mother and grandmother loved me for being me too…but it just isn’t the same. Mothers and grandmothers are responsible for loving and disciplining. Tantes are just for loving. As a child, we need both but yearn for only the loving.

On July 30, my lifelong dream of being a tante was fulfilled. Syl was safely delivered (albeit 3 weeks early!) of a healthy and very beautiful daughter — to be known hereafter as Sunflower.

Sunflower is not my first niece. PC’s sister has the honour of presenting me with the child who first made me an aunt and I cherish that little girl very much.

And yet…

I am not certain I would agree with Shakespeare when he wrote “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” I love being an aunt. However, I have never felt any attachment to the name ‘aunt.’ Perhaps it is because we did not use that term in my family. The term ‘tante’ is imbued with all sorts of warm, fuzzy feelings.

Now I am the tante. Tante Frume Sarah. I like the sound of that!

And in approximately 55 hours, Tante Frume Sarah will meet little Sunflower for the first time.

And she can hardly wait…