Stamped In My Heart
my Aunt Vera, or 'tetka Vera' as i used to call her in Serbian, used to grab my hand & dance with me anywhere.
it didn't matter if we were walking through the park, in the grocery store, at the beach or at a friend's house visiting.
she used to call me her "kraljica" which means "Queen" in Serbian... even as i entered my 30's.
she was beautyFULL inside & out with a signature look - always sporting her thick blond bangs & berry colored lipstick.
my Aunt would send me & my sister cards & letters from Yugoslavia. at the end of every card, she would leave a kiss mark with that distinct 'Vera' berry colored lipstick. ...just another one of the countless memories i have of a woman who impacted my life more than she knew.
now i only wish i could have had at least one more day to tell her...
my Aunt Vera passed away suddenly on May 12th, 2011. after coming home on a two week long adventure in Europe, it was definitely the last thing i thought i would come home to & devastating to say the least.
you may remember my Aunt from a past post, as well. 
she was my Mother's best friend & the BEST Aunt a person could ask for.
she was a daughter, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a friend...
a truly beautyFULL soul.
needless to say, this loss has been incredibly heavy on my heart. i wasn't ready to write about it last week, and in ways i am still in shock that it is actually real. however, i had to share some images in remembrance of this precious spirit...
& a life that we are all living together that is so precious in & of itself.
some old photos i found of my Mom & Vera when they were younger :
it didn't matter if we were walking through the park, in the grocery store, at the beach or at a friend's house visiting.
she used to call me her "kraljica" which means "Queen" in Serbian... even as i entered my 30's.
she was beautyFULL inside & out with a signature look - always sporting her thick blond bangs & berry colored lipstick.
my Aunt would send me & my sister cards & letters from Yugoslavia. at the end of every card, she would leave a kiss mark with that distinct 'Vera' berry colored lipstick.
...just another one of the countless memories i have of a woman who impacted my life more than she knew.
now i only wish i could have had at least one more day to tell her...
my Aunt Vera passed away suddenly on May 12th, 2011. after coming home on a two week long adventure in Europe, it was definitely the last thing i thought i would come home to & devastating to say the least.
you may remember my Aunt from a past post, as well.
she was my Mother's best friend & the BEST Aunt a person could ask for.
she was a daughter, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a friend...
a truly beautyFULL soul.
& a life that we are all living together that is so precious in & of itself.
: 
here she is mocking me.
i remember this moment like it was yesterday. 
:
how important it is to tell those you love & appreciate that you LOVE & APPRECIATE them. so much.
and to never, ever, stop taking photographs.
they tend to grow more & more fond to your heart with time.
...and sometimes,
when you least expect it.
to my tetka Vera,
your presence & influence in my life will forever be stamped into my heart....
just like those berry-colored kiss marks you would sign your name with in every letter to me.
may your love, laughter & zest for life live on forever...
just as my love for you will.
uvek ces mi biti u mom srce!!! UVEK!
(you will always be in my heart!!! always!)
love love love,
ksenija