Sunday, September 03, 2006
F a m i l y
It's funny, the passage of time. We attended a reunion with people from my wife's maternal side of the family today at Hornady Park in Petersburgh, Indiana. In 1990, a series of tornadoes tore through Petersburgh and wrecked the park, the only one of it's kind in Petersburgh. When we arrived, it impressed me how nice things looked. There were oaks and elms and maples scattered across rolling mounded hillocks. There was a new water park for the kids. The grounds were pristine, and an 'old' log cabin had been built to show what life was like at the turn of the nineteenth century.
We convened at a shelter house resting on one of the hills. From this vantage point, you could view the clear lake and it's inhabitants, children fishing with their grandparents and aunts and uncles. Plenty of food was laid out on one of the long series of tables. Fried chicken, green bean casserole, potatos, tomatos and plenty of dishes to choose from for desert, including chocolate chip cookies (my favorite kind) and brownies (another favorite) all were presented so that the food looked absolutely inviting.
Before we ate, one of the senior men said a prayer blessing the food and offering thanksgiving for families and times spent together through the years. Then, the eating began. The food tasted as good as it looked, washed down with cans of soda, iced tea and lemonade. The conversations flowed easily. People were arranged at the table sitting next to their immediate family, and then connected by a cousin who in turn sat next to his immediate family, and so on. So conversations would begin with those closest, and radiate to those further away.
Although the number of people exceded thirty, the talk was quiet, pleasant and enjoyable. No outbursts or loud guffaws. Just comfortable pleasantries shared with the near and dear, and not so near yet still dear. The conversation during this mealtime centered around people's work or retirement, what their hobbies were, why they liked the car they were driving, and tips and recipes for cooking.
After the breaking of the bread, I bummed the keys to the van and broke away for a quick smoke, as having a cigarette after a meal is the most desirable one for me. When I got back, a group of the ladies had decided to walk down to the log cabin. The men were going to let their food settle, but I wasn't having it. I offered to go along to the log cabin as I was curious about it. The kids peeled away to change into swim trunks so they could play at the water park, which was within easy view from the shelter house so the men could keep an eye on them.
As the ladies and I made our way by passing the lake toward the log cabin, I held my wife's hand as the two of us talked about her family. What had her grandfather done for a living? He was a farmer. How many children did he and his wife have? They had fifteen and his wife was just thirty three when she passed away during childbirth! How big was their house? It had only three rooms and was very old.
When we arrived at the log cabin, we entered through the front door which opened into the main family room. Although all of this was simulated with modern materials, there was a quilting machine set in a corner, a fireplace in the middle of the 'front' wall, and an oval rug on the floor. We moved on to the bedroom which featured a large bed with flour-sack pillows and the room had a chest in the corner of it which actually looked quite old.
Mary's mother commented that the ceilings probably weren't built as high as these, which looked to be about sixteen feet high. She said they orignially would have hung much lower. She also said the cabin didn't look that bad and reminded her of the house she grew up in. I could only imagine without relating to living in such close quarters with so many people (fifteen children!)
________________
After we returned to the shelter house, we all took our chairs and made a great circle so we could face each other as we talked. More recipe exchanging, more talk of golf and retirement, more words on the genealogy of the family. But the conversation was again quiet and agreeable.
With the sun out, the temperature around seventy one degrees, and a nice breeze blowing ('there's always a breeze blowing here, every year' said someone), my mood became downright hypnotic as I gazed at the maples and oaks and pines dotting the rolling hillocks. I felt myself falling away to sleep in mid conversation!
____________________
'Just look at the time!' someone exclaimed. It was already five o' clock. Everyone jumped to their feet and began breaking down their chairs and gathering up the pots and pans of food. There was a slight commotion as everyone gathered their things into their cars and said their goodbyes and see you next year's.
_______________________
The next thing I knew, we were in the van headed down highway fifty seven on our way back to Evansville.
What I nice way to spend a Labor Day weekend, I thought, and soon was fast asleep in the car, my head lolled about as we made our way through the curves and straights of the highway.
It's funny, the passage of time. We attended a reunion with people from my wife's maternal side of the family today at Hornady Park in Petersburgh, Indiana. In 1990, a series of tornadoes tore through Petersburgh and wrecked the park, the only one of it's kind in Petersburgh. When we arrived, it impressed me how nice things looked. There were oaks and elms and maples scattered across rolling mounded hillocks. There was a new water park for the kids. The grounds were pristine, and an 'old' log cabin had been built to show what life was like at the turn of the nineteenth century.
We convened at a shelter house resting on one of the hills. From this vantage point, you could view the clear lake and it's inhabitants, children fishing with their grandparents and aunts and uncles. Plenty of food was laid out on one of the long series of tables. Fried chicken, green bean casserole, potatos, tomatos and plenty of dishes to choose from for desert, including chocolate chip cookies (my favorite kind) and brownies (another favorite) all were presented so that the food looked absolutely inviting.
Before we ate, one of the senior men said a prayer blessing the food and offering thanksgiving for families and times spent together through the years. Then, the eating began. The food tasted as good as it looked, washed down with cans of soda, iced tea and lemonade. The conversations flowed easily. People were arranged at the table sitting next to their immediate family, and then connected by a cousin who in turn sat next to his immediate family, and so on. So conversations would begin with those closest, and radiate to those further away.
Although the number of people exceded thirty, the talk was quiet, pleasant and enjoyable. No outbursts or loud guffaws. Just comfortable pleasantries shared with the near and dear, and not so near yet still dear. The conversation during this mealtime centered around people's work or retirement, what their hobbies were, why they liked the car they were driving, and tips and recipes for cooking.
After the breaking of the bread, I bummed the keys to the van and broke away for a quick smoke, as having a cigarette after a meal is the most desirable one for me. When I got back, a group of the ladies had decided to walk down to the log cabin. The men were going to let their food settle, but I wasn't having it. I offered to go along to the log cabin as I was curious about it. The kids peeled away to change into swim trunks so they could play at the water park, which was within easy view from the shelter house so the men could keep an eye on them.
As the ladies and I made our way by passing the lake toward the log cabin, I held my wife's hand as the two of us talked about her family. What had her grandfather done for a living? He was a farmer. How many children did he and his wife have? They had fifteen and his wife was just thirty three when she passed away during childbirth! How big was their house? It had only three rooms and was very old.
When we arrived at the log cabin, we entered through the front door which opened into the main family room. Although all of this was simulated with modern materials, there was a quilting machine set in a corner, a fireplace in the middle of the 'front' wall, and an oval rug on the floor. We moved on to the bedroom which featured a large bed with flour-sack pillows and the room had a chest in the corner of it which actually looked quite old.
Mary's mother commented that the ceilings probably weren't built as high as these, which looked to be about sixteen feet high. She said they orignially would have hung much lower. She also said the cabin didn't look that bad and reminded her of the house she grew up in. I could only imagine without relating to living in such close quarters with so many people (fifteen children!)
________________
After we returned to the shelter house, we all took our chairs and made a great circle so we could face each other as we talked. More recipe exchanging, more talk of golf and retirement, more words on the genealogy of the family. But the conversation was again quiet and agreeable.
With the sun out, the temperature around seventy one degrees, and a nice breeze blowing ('there's always a breeze blowing here, every year' said someone), my mood became downright hypnotic as I gazed at the maples and oaks and pines dotting the rolling hillocks. I felt myself falling away to sleep in mid conversation!
____________________
'Just look at the time!' someone exclaimed. It was already five o' clock. Everyone jumped to their feet and began breaking down their chairs and gathering up the pots and pans of food. There was a slight commotion as everyone gathered their things into their cars and said their goodbyes and see you next year's.
_______________________
The next thing I knew, we were in the van headed down highway fifty seven on our way back to Evansville.
What I nice way to spend a Labor Day weekend, I thought, and soon was fast asleep in the car, my head lolled about as we made our way through the curves and straights of the highway.
