Family Reunions

Im headed off to the great state of Michigan for a family get together on my moms side. I find these things somewhat daunting.There is so much anticipation. Its exciting to get a look at all the folks you are related too, compare freckles and feet and stances. But it's all so harried. Do this, do that, too busy to talk quietly and at length with everyone. Inevitably you miss catching up with Cousin x but get a really good visit in with Aunt o.Funny, there are always some in the family you are really glad to share genes with and then there are some you wonder what bus stop they got on at. I suppose they think that about me too.
Reunions are getting harder with more distance between family. Gas prices and airline fees are costly. Our lives are soooo busy. How important are these gatherings? Young families tend to dismiss these events as another picnic and a hassle. But where else will you here about Cousin Davids Silver Star in WW2, the action that cost his life? Where will you learn that grandma Daisy read novels to her husband, who wasnt able to read. When would you here about the cousin who got run over by a train, or that Great uncle Layton Newel (Dugan) served in France in WW1.When would you hear that our grandparents first met when they were 7 years old? And that drop of Irish is real! The more you learn about the people that came before you, the more you tend to learn about the times they were living in. What was happening...World Wars that decided our political futures....Depressions that guided our economy and business life...medical treatments that were archaic or nonexistent. These gatherings give us perspective and a dose of reality. We live in a fabulous time in an astonishing country and we shouldnt take it for granted. We relate to stories told to us to pass on this history. And we get that at reunions and gatherings. Besides, there is always the fabulous food, and the baseball games where the little kids always get a home run.....

Saturday

There are so many things happening in our corner of the world. I helped set up an event today in our park. It was sponsored in part by the Friends. Eyes Wide Open. It calls attention to the cost of war. We had to set out the boots of dead Oregon soldiers, shoes representing dead Iraqis and thousands of prayer flags. Each set of boots had a picture ID and name and many had family memorabilia. It was touching the boots that made me cry. Some probably weren't the real thing but many were. And the impact was awful. I know we are fighting in wars around the world. I know in part we are trying to globalize freedom of choice and prevent blatant personal abuse. But the cost of each action is so final and so high. I wish the leaders of our country would have to meet face to face with the families of every single soldier who dies. Maybe then they would give more consideration to the hard choices. Reading history, it is obvious many wars are started and run by those who crave power. And many feel they must respond with war as they have no option that retains their dignity and rights. But must we really? I wish we could begin to evolve past some of this horror.
So all that was topping off a week that started with our beloved 15 year old doggie getting very ill. When we took him to the Vet . He passed out when they were treating him. They thought they had lost him right then. His chest Xray showed some bad things in his right chest. He was supposed to stay at the Vets overnight for antibiotics and observation. But I found out no one was going to be there at night so I brought him home, thinking this was going to be IT. Well, the old guy rallied again and is happily sniffing around. He isnt really well, and likely we are experincing our last times together, but we are glad his brown nose is snuffling us and he is snoring at the foot of the bed for awhile longer.
And for the good news, the weather is warm although we are experincing lots of smoky air. The first rasberries, zuchinni and sungold tomatoes are coming off the vine. We are well if contemplative. And Im losing the battle with weeds! Shucks.

Summer

I peruse the blogs of my talented nieces and others as they settle into the heart of Summer. I contemplate the contentment we all feel under the gentle breezes, warmed air; walking among berry fields and gardens laden with ripening veggies. Even the dirt smells good! .There's nuthin like a summer day.
At our house, we awaken to a bright yellow room. The sun pours through the dappled yellow fabric of our curtains. Light glows off the butter cream color on our walls. Everyday we wake up happy and smiling because "its sunny"! And then "we're retired"! Even more smiles. The cat jingles his collar bell and the dog snores softly ( or not so softly). I pad to the kitchen to make a dark rich pot of coffee. I look out my kitchen windows at the gold finches pecking at their thistle feeder. I look toward the nearby hills and mountains, at that last glimpse of melting snow on the ridgeline . Capturing that early morning feel and smell of the world as our loved ones stir, the birds tweet, the air is still cool... that would make someone a trillion dollars. You know, one would almost think we're in Heaven already.

Birthdays

I experienced my 49th birthday. It was memorable in many ways.Firstly, I've never been 49 before. And I've never been in a position to enjoy my birthday for 10 days straight! Thanks to some wonderful friends and relatives this occured. I've never been soundly trounced in croquet on my birthday either- thanks Wanda!! Or laughed so much-thanks Rich and Kelsey. Or been loved so much- thanks Honey! Or hugged so much-thanks Irv and Susan! And had such fabulous renditions of Happy Birthday sung to me- thanks to all who harmonized (you know who you are!)Birthdays are an interesting phenomena. We make such a big deal of this celebration. The gifts, the party and really isnt it just that we want a day to be special, a day when we are the center of attention. The star of the show.Why isnt it that we enjoy every day like our birthdays? It isnt the gifts ( as fun as they are!). I think its that everyone says such nice things to us. We adore that. We should start a new trend. Lets pretend every day is every other persons birthday and hug them and say nice things to them....and then...every day will be a gift . And it will be our birthday every day too!

In the Beginning

I have officially joined the modern age, the techie world, the universe of global communication! My very own blog. Whoa. Or is it wow?
How free is it to share your private thoughts and ideas or just daily blatherings? And feel like it's anonymous?Will a grammer fanatic decry my humble efforts?Or will my words become dry as dust and eventually blow into obscurity?
Who cares, I say...as long as I like it. I, who has never written to Dear Abby . I, who have always meant to write those pesky politicians or the City Council Codgers but could never quite gather my thoughts together. I can have my say about art,poetry, politics, fabrics, relatives....and stuff!
Maybe, just perhaps I'll write something wonderful tomorrow!