Infinity symbol by Vexels
When I was a kid, I used to love to quiz my aunt with math problems. She was my mom’s older sister by over twenty years, and they were very close. She was an important figure in my early childhood in a wonderful, joyful way. She was kind, attentive, caring, and thoughtful.
I remember going over to her house and there was a lot going on. She had a large estate and there were always people working on the land, gardeners, cleaning staff, maids, the driver, and more. She always insisted on cooking some things herself. She would always ask me what I wanted and give me that in the most beautiful way.
I remember not liking fish very much at first apart from fish cakes and fish and chips, at eight, but she made so many delicious seafood meals and would give me bite-size portions that I would want to eat them. I used to go around asking her math questions while she did all this — getting a big meal ready for the family and guests, cooking something special for me on the side, and managing all the people in the household.
“How much is 8,456 times 18,563,559?” I asked. I asked a lot of questions like that!
She would look at me thoughtfully and keep doing whatever she was doing, helping everyone, and getting stuff done. Then without skipping a beat, she would answer me a minute later and it would always be right!
I would pull out my calculator and check. I remember thinking I could add decimals or fractions to throw her off her game. But she would get them right, each time without needing any extra time either.
Ha ha! She was this incredible mathematician and natural genius. Most people though knew her as a kind, thoughtful lady who welcomed you genuinely and managed a beautiful home she had created.
I knew her for who she really was — the unspoken, brilliant mathematician and secret wizard! : D