Florence Louise Johnson Cates
1 April 1929-22 June 2013
Florence & Dean’s
Children,Grandchildren and God-daughter-me!
Susie, Lisa,Connie and Mark
My Cousin Connie and I, today.
26 June 2013
Love is Life’s River:
Always Moving & AlwaysChanging…
Amazing Grace,
Catherine Louise Johnson
I kept my Daddy’s name: Johnson.
He was killed in a car accident
when he was thirty-two.
I was six.
My other siblings changed their last names
to match my Step-father’s last name.
A choice.
I had a need to know my True North.
I was alone with Johnson
and
with the invisible Johnson stars above.
Grandma (Florence Louise)Johnson
was a flapper,
loved to entertain,
she was a beautiful,
regal and magnetic personality
who loved pink peonies-as did her daughter,
my Aunt Florence,
my Daddy’s youngest and only sister.
I love pink peonies.
A ring of aJohnson generation
is now complete in the family tree.
Aunt Florence was the last to fly away
upward to the sky.
A shining star- day & night.
Authentic love cannot be severed by time nor space.
Stars in the daytime are invisible to the eye,
yet,
they are there
always.
Each life story of every individual in a family
provides visions, faith and trajectories
for the next generation.
It is the tradition of elder musicians
teaching the young lion musicians.
Listen, practice.
Practice.
Listen.
Practice, listen.
Leap.
Truth telling is beauty.
Listen
&
Break Open!
Aunt Florence was an artist.
She created her own beautifully crafted,
detailedChristmas cards every year
as did my Mother,
and
as I do.
I watched and I studied their creations
with
awe, respect and desire.
Aunt Florence, one year, created enameled charms
of each season
and
placed them on a bracelet.
She gave one of her creations to my sister
and me as aChristmas gift,
once upon a time,
long, long ago.
When my Cousin Connie informed me
the vigil had begun,
I retrieved my bracelet
and
added ornaments
and
a green crystal
from one of the chandeliers
from our Johnson grandparent’s home.
Thank you for the you of you,
Aunt Florence.
CATHERINE L. JOHNSON 
beautiful!