your aunt ruth sounds like a wonderful, loving, and supportive woman. i'm heartglad you've written her story out so it won't be lost. I've left a sunflower bouquet for her.

her possible decision about children reminds me of my mother's, father's father. he was the eldest of 11 children, his widow, my nana mae, told me he was scrupulous about using condoms (back when it was something anyone, much less catholics, did) and had warned her before their marriage in 1908 that he wanted one child and only one child because he'd raised so many already (his youngest brother was 16 years his junior).

and my grandfather was indeed his only child.