Aunt Dolly, 1949-2002
Received word Friday night that my Aunt Dolores died. She was my mother's only sibling, two years older. After years of being profoundly overweight and battling various health problems, she died of a heart attack at 52.

Aunt Dolly and I were not particularly close, but that was mostly a function of distance. During my childhood, her then-husband was in the Air Force, stationed in various places in California and Germany. She leaves behind two children, one about my age and one four years younger. She also leaves behind her current husband. Their first anniversary would have been April 1.

Aunt Dolly will be buried near her father and her mother, both of whom also died from heart attacks in their 50s. This leaves my mother as the only remaining member of her immediate family. I'm very sad for her.

As for all of you, if anybody reading this is not being diligent about taking care of himself or herself, I implore you to please start. I'm going to.