Courageous

I wrote this in honor of my Aunt, on Wednesday, on a flight down to San Jose.  I will miss her forever and hope that her life can be remember for what it was, a great success story.  Further proof of the power of the human spirit.

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Wednesday I awoke at 3:30am to catch a flight to San Jose to meet a customer.  As I sat in the airport waiting for my flight I learned that my Aunt Eva had passed away earlier that morning.  She had heart issues yesterday and was rushed to the hospital after her heart suddenly stopped on a trip to take my Grandmother to a Doctors appointment.  On Tuesday they said she should be fine and that it was fortunate that it happened at a medical office, but shortly after midnight her beautiful heart beat one last beat.  One last brush stroke on one of Heavenly Father's great masterpieces. 

My Aunt Eva was a special woman, with a heart and mind turned towards kindness and compassion.  She was pregnant very young and was left to be a single Mom.  But ever resilient, always pressing forward she persevered.  Along her route, she met a wonderful man who would make her a mother to three more.   Their family was full at four when tragedy struck, my Uncle Bill was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer that took his life short.  Once again alone, she did what she did best and kept pushing forward and persevered through the heart break and loneliness.  There is one word above all else that can be used to describe my Aunt Eva and that word is, Courageous.  When others would quit, she would just be getting started.

I have found myself trying to come to terms with not seeing her great qualities anymore.  That was until I started thinking about my dear cousins, to them she left much of who she was. 

-To Michael she left a sense of composure that only those who know her can truly understand.  My Aunt was one to be counted on for poise, when the storms clouds were brewing she was there steadfast and graceful.  You just know that with them things are going to work out.

-To Nadean she left a sense of optimism, a spirit that is unbreakable even under the most challenging conditions.  Her smiles always came free and her love flows from a spring that is seemingly without end. There family comes first, second, third and every other place in there hearts.   

-To Robby (Robert to everyone else :)) she left a sense of compassion that truly knows no bounds.  My cousin like his Mom would walk to the very end of the world barefoot for those he loves.  They both never miss an opportunity to express their love through action.

-To Gloria (I can't help but smile about this one) she left a sense of protectionism that you dare not test when it comes to their family.  Pure sweetness turns into toughness and resilience if the well being of those she loves is threatened or if they are found in need. 

    

In this time of much grief I find myself so happy that they are all so close.  She leaves a close knit family as a testament to a life truly well lived. 

It is said that love is all too often only fully expressed in loss.  This is especially true when the loss is sudden and seemingly without prior warning.  Things that were important yesterday, seem far less weighty.  The work projects to get done, today seem to have less of a point.  I could do well to curl up in a ball and down my sorrow with a large amount of complacency.  I could easily forget the message of this great woman's life.  So instead, I move forward one step at a time into a world unknown.  A world absent of the warm hugs and big kisses that I always placed far too little value on.  I just always thought there would be more to follow.

All of her courageous acts were not done in vein pursuit of glory or out of a desire to quickly forget, through busyness, the things that hurt.  No, her courage came out of a desire to move her family forward.  She was born a Campos and being born a Campos means a basic belief that each passing generation can, and will, be the strongest one yet.  It means taking a punch, it means staying in a losing game, it means sacrificing so those who follow may know greater joy.  This is a sacrifice that is etched upon the hearts of those nurtured under her.  Perhaps her message can be best expressed by the following words:

Work for a cause, not for applause.

Live life to express, not to impress.

Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.

**Unknown**

I consider myself privileged  know her , lucky to learn from her and blessed to be loved unconditionally by her.  To the woman who set such a great example of courage, I owe a debt that can only be repaid by more fully living this gift in my own life. 

So here is to you, Aunt Eva! To a life well lived.  To a commitment unmatched.  To a legacy without end.  Cheers to you on a rest well earned.  Check in every once in a while and know that I will always consider it a blessing of great worth just to know you.    

Love always, 

Nickel AKA Dewey of Huey, Dewey and Louie.