Christmas mornings held a special magic for Diana Miller, marked by the arrival of her aunt, Saza. The sound of a jingle bell on the back door signaled Saza's presence, and she would settle into a large, blue upholstered wingback chair, her feet tucked beneath her. Miller recalled the amplified joy she felt showing her aunt new baby dolls, with Saza cooing enthusiastically.
One year, Saza gifted her nieces and nephews thick black plastic glasses with rubber banana noses. Miller described it as the silliest, yet best, gift she had ever received. A photograph captured the moment, showing the family piled together in laughter and silliness. Miller noted that her aunt's presence brought a sense of security, a feeling that everything was alright.
Miller’s aunt was among the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Years later, Miller reflects on how her aunt's memory highlights the importance of substitute mothers in one's life.
