Reflection by an Aunt
Greta Pinto
Amy, dear, sweet Amy. What a precious gift of life. Amy, with a smile so bright you could see it across the room. Amy, the only grandchild to inherit Grandma's blue eyes. Amy, whose eyes reflected the beauty of her family's love.
I did not know Amy well, and for that I am so, so sorry. As a young child, I remember Amy as a whirling dervish -- she was the grandchild at the family gatherings who couldn't sit still -- who always had something to say -- who always encouraged my children to sneak that extra cookie when no one was looking -- who encouraged them to go exploring in the fields behind our parents' house. She always had the latest clothes and the newest electronics -- when she came to visit, there was always a bag of hand-me-downs for my children -- something they always waited anxiously for...
I mostly saw Amy on holidays -- and what I will remember most is Easter -- Easter at the Broadway Market very early on Holy Saturdays -- where the grandchildren always had chocolate covered strawberries -- and where Melissa always took pictures, much to our dismay, in front of certain vendors -- how I cherish the thought of those pictures now...
And then there was the mandatory stop at Tim Horton's on the way home from the market. Tim Horton's, Mighty Taco, the mall, the Botanical Gardens -- those were all required places to go when Amy cam to visit. They are all pieces of the traditions Melissa instilled in her children, so that they would come to think of Buffalo as a place of visiting family and building memories.
Sometimes life takes us places that we don't understand. Life at all stages is precious, and Amy was one of those precious jewels of the heart -- she will shine in all of our hearts forever -- Amy left footprints of her life on everyone she knew.
Amy is looking over all of us now -- guiding us through our daily struggles, and telling us to embrace those struggles, as well as our delights -- to make each day matter, since everything can change in an instant -- to not take those we love for granted -- to let people know that we care -- to be thankful for the blessings we have -- and be thankful that we had Amy to love.