I cared for and helped out my Great Aunt Bertha a lot in her final years. The saddest, saddest saddest thing ever was when she said quietly to me, "Maybe it would be better if I never had (step)children. Then I wouldn't expect them to care or visit."

It could have broken your heart.

But she had us, anyway - Ma was her eldest niece, Bertha was Ma's youngest Aunt - and the only one shorter than Ma was. So they were always buddies, and consequently we were, too.

To give you a grin:

All my mother's children ended up taller than her. So when we'd pick on her about being short, she'd say "Yes, but I'm taller than Aunt Bertha!"

Whereas Aunt Bertha, when discussing height - she was the shortest of 8 siblings - would say "Yes, but I'm taller than Mrs. Schwartz!"

She said that to me one day, and I said "Mrs. Schwarts of Schwartz hardware? I've met her, she's taller than me ..." (and 20 years older, as well), and Aunt Bertha said "No, her mother-in-law - Mr. Schwartz's mother, she was only (indicated about eyebrow height on herself) this tall!"