My grandmother Jones gave me Rush; my aunt Trudi gave me the LP of Iron Maiden’s Live After Death one Christmas. I had never heard it, but I knew the art looked cool and lots of people wore Iron Maiden patches.

It was the start of my metal phase, which has yet to end.

She also caught one of my friends asking for smokes outside the gas station one day. My friend said I was lucky to have an aunt cool enough to not only buy the cigarettes for him but not make a big deal if it.

Trudi passed away yesterday.

She will be missed.