Family Reunion!

Last Saturday, the day of our family reunion, there was a possibility of rain.  But thanks to the storm the day before, it was a bit cooler (mid-80’s) and no rain!  

Kudos to my Aunt Martha for hosting the event again this year and having a house big enough for me to stay in.  Here is my Aunt and her boyfriend Will:

Longtime readers may remember that my Aunt’s husband Dave (the only “uncle” I remember growing up) passed away at their Lake House five years ago.  I believe they were together for 25+ years?  Two years ago when we were visiting, she had just started seeing Will above.  I’ve spent a good deal of time with him when I helped them last year selling peanuts.  He’s kind, funny and I couldn’t be happier that they found each other.

My brother Charlie and my cousin Brian are so similar – both super smart and have so many ideas, they wish every day were 48 hours long vs. 24.  

Rachel and Laura:

My Momma with her cousin Carol:

This is my cousin’s wife Chris below, who is a daily reader of the blog – your support means so much to me Chris – it was great to see you!  

This is my Godmother and Great Aunt Cele.  Going strong at 87 years old.  Loves her sauvignon blanc and bourbon.  I hope I am as active at 87 as she is.  She also reads the blog – morning Aunt Cele!

I liked this picture of our feet together 😀  Apparently I didn’t get her feet!

This is my cousin Pam’s husband Weare.  Pam died exactly a month after Tony died in January of 2015.  Pam and Wear met in their late teens and I remember they came to our house when I was probably in high school.  They were backpacking across the country and I thought that was the coolest thing ever.   They too thought they would retire and grow old together.

Weare is a psychologist, and every year since our spouses died, he first gives me a long hug, and says “let’s talk before the day gets away from us.”  He asked if I was dating.  I said no.  I asked if he was dating.  He said no.  But that he’d been set up a few times but it didn’t go anywhere.  The only difference about me and Weare is that he’s not really gotten rid of any of his wife’s things, I think other than her clothes and a few pieces of Tupperware.  Her glasses are still on the night stand, papers she was working on are on the table.  

I know if it hadn’t been for the need for my living room remodel because of my leaky roof, I didn’t like spending time in my living room because Tony’s Lay-Z-Boy was empty and a constant reminder that he wasn’t with me anymore.    

She battled breast cancer for 10 years already when this picture was taken 4 1/2 years before she died.  

Both of their kids are now married – Eric and his wife just had their second baby – she would have been an amazing grandmother!

You’ll note that Hannah and Jacob are not in the picture, or my cousin Karen and her husband because they were taking a ride in my cousin’s husbands new Jeep, but some of the family came by boat and it was a 2 1/2 hour boat ride home and they had to get going.

The trip went by so fast, but I am always happy to see extended family.  My cousin Karen said that she wished we lived closer, and to blame my Mom and Dad for moving us to Chicago back in 1964 “for a couple years” which turned into the rest of her life.  

It’s always interesting to me how one decision can take your life, and the lives of so many others, in a completely different direction.  What if my Mom had not wanted to move with my Dad to Chicago for his job?  What if they only stayed for a few years and the went back to Virginia?  Then I wouldn’t have had the life I had, I wouldn’t have met Hannah’s Dad, Hannah wouldn’t be here, she wouldn’t have met Jacob . . .all because of one decision!   

I don’t have any plans this weekend, which is fine by me.  I need to catch up on laundry, meal plan, the usual stuff.  I am going to my WW meeting at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, then have an eye doctor appointment at 10:00.  At my last visit, because I am diabetic I get a special eye test done, and they found a small “hemmorage” which could be nothing, but they need to do a different test to take a better picture of it.  

What’s on tap for your weekend?  Cannot believe we are heading into the last part of July already.  Oh, and I already saw the school supplies at Walmart and Target.  I imagine in a couple weeks I’ll see Christmas decorations too 😛

Make it a great day!