This last weekend for Mother's Day, I had the opportunity to go down to Pocatello to see my dad's side of the family. It was so much fun. I love to "pick the brain" of my relatives of whom I only see for some holidays and special occasions. I even got to see my great aunt Harriet, who at 86 is as sharp as a tack and can keep up with any conversation. To hear the way life was when she was my age, and to hear her poke fun at her younger brother (my grandfather) is just priceless.
I believe the only movie I have ever seen that captures the real feeling of family "get togethers" is Dan in Real Life. The way we interact with family gatherings is so different from any other gathering. Your family has seen you grow up, your family has supported you, and your family loves you (despite political or relational differences). These family gatherings only will happen the way they do now for what seems to be a moment. People will pass away, grow apart, move away, and start new families. To miss the chance to be with 3, or sometimes 4 different generations in one room, is something I would regret. Hearing stories of your grandfather saving people from the river, or that one time my great Uncle Jim pee'd in the sink at a rest stop is priceless.
Cherish your life. Make the best of it. Make a legacy, and then watch it grow. Most of all, Let Your Life Shine.
Love,
Keith
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I agree...I recently went to NYC for my grandmothers funeral and the stark reality that my childhood memories wouldn't be my children's was a revelation. Duh - isn't it obvious that things change? Yet for some reason it hit me that life does change and it's never going to remain the same as what we remember - therefore there's value in cherishing memories but also value in creating new ones.
ReplyDeleteGood post Keith!