Bloomington, Indiana
John and I drove here to at long last visit with Jack and Stephanie and Ceilidh. She is a precious baby-kins; all huge grins, high pitched squeals, and general happiness.
Ceilidh loves the kitties who live with her & her parents, but the kitties are wary, all but one. Gir is the oldest and is a bit protective of Ceilidh; maybe it's her motherly way.
While we are here for four days, we also got to attend one afternoon/evening of my family reunion that's always held at Phyllis's home just out of town. In attendance this year Jeanne & Rennie & Kim & Anna & Aaron Orr; Gary and Daniel Carlson; Christy Carlson; Phyllis (of course); Louie, Maddy and Macie Schwitzer; Anne Bryan; Laurence and Diana Bryan; Melissa Bryan Mohan & her twin 7 yr old daughters Anne & Gemma; Carl & Lois Simpson; Carole, John, Jack, Stephanie & Ceilidh Dalphin; Roy Smith (friend of Anne Bryan). I think that's it - a nice group.
When John & I arrived Sat. afternoon, everyone but Anna was in the pool playing volleyball with a beach ball the size of Montana. Eventually I got in the water, too, but the game was over & everyone was just floating around or sitting on the deck talking, drinking a little beer or soda. I got to float with Jeanne, Fi, & Christy for quite a while, just talking & laughing.
There's always a pitch-in dinner/lunch/breakfast every day of the reunion with tons of cakes, which I took first lest I lose my appetite eating regular food. Afterward, there was a lot of sitting around on the patio visiting & doing dishes, & finally a huge fireworks display, thanks to Laurence, assisted by Daniel & Louie. Apparently, Diana loves fireworks & Laurence entertained her with such a display in their back yard out in the Missouri countryside every year for her birthday. This tradition has moved to the reunion recently & was a huge treat.
Friday was the birthday of the family matriarch, Anne Bryan, who is actually only a few years older than Jeanne and I, so this year the fireworks were in her honor.
Jack & Steph left a little after the fireworks because Ceilidh was frightened by them & wanted the peace & quiet of her home, a nice warm bath, and a comforting bottle of formula; John and I followed around midnight.
The joy I felt being among my family members is difficult to explain. This family is so loving, so inclusive, so caring about one another, that when we haven't seen each other in any number of months or years, getting together again is a huge celebration of love.
This family is my life blood. My children are part too, but haven't, for the most part, had the opportunity to participate for a long time. Wil, Melissa and Katie came to the reunion for an afternoon when Katie was a baby; Jack & family came this year. I hope Julie & her boys and George & Annie will be able to attend some time. And Edie - everyone asks about her, most haven't seen her since high school! But they miss every one that's not there.
Thank you God, Universe, The Committee, whoever is in charge of assigning families. Thank You.
Ceilidh loves the kitties who live with her & her parents, but the kitties are wary, all but one. Gir is the oldest and is a bit protective of Ceilidh; maybe it's her motherly way.
While we are here for four days, we also got to attend one afternoon/evening of my family reunion that's always held at Phyllis's home just out of town. In attendance this year Jeanne & Rennie & Kim & Anna & Aaron Orr; Gary and Daniel Carlson; Christy Carlson; Phyllis (of course); Louie, Maddy and Macie Schwitzer; Anne Bryan; Laurence and Diana Bryan; Melissa Bryan Mohan & her twin 7 yr old daughters Anne & Gemma; Carl & Lois Simpson; Carole, John, Jack, Stephanie & Ceilidh Dalphin; Roy Smith (friend of Anne Bryan). I think that's it - a nice group.
When John & I arrived Sat. afternoon, everyone but Anna was in the pool playing volleyball with a beach ball the size of Montana. Eventually I got in the water, too, but the game was over & everyone was just floating around or sitting on the deck talking, drinking a little beer or soda. I got to float with Jeanne, Fi, & Christy for quite a while, just talking & laughing.
There's always a pitch-in dinner/lunch/breakfast every day of the reunion with tons of cakes, which I took first lest I lose my appetite eating regular food. Afterward, there was a lot of sitting around on the patio visiting & doing dishes, & finally a huge fireworks display, thanks to Laurence, assisted by Daniel & Louie. Apparently, Diana loves fireworks & Laurence entertained her with such a display in their back yard out in the Missouri countryside every year for her birthday. This tradition has moved to the reunion recently & was a huge treat.
Friday was the birthday of the family matriarch, Anne Bryan, who is actually only a few years older than Jeanne and I, so this year the fireworks were in her honor.
Jack & Steph left a little after the fireworks because Ceilidh was frightened by them & wanted the peace & quiet of her home, a nice warm bath, and a comforting bottle of formula; John and I followed around midnight.
The joy I felt being among my family members is difficult to explain. This family is so loving, so inclusive, so caring about one another, that when we haven't seen each other in any number of months or years, getting together again is a huge celebration of love.
This family is my life blood. My children are part too, but haven't, for the most part, had the opportunity to participate for a long time. Wil, Melissa and Katie came to the reunion for an afternoon when Katie was a baby; Jack & family came this year. I hope Julie & her boys and George & Annie will be able to attend some time. And Edie - everyone asks about her, most haven't seen her since high school! But they miss every one that's not there.
Thank you God, Universe, The Committee, whoever is in charge of assigning families. Thank You.