My brother, Bobby and his wife Sarah have been visiting the family for almost a month now. I will have only seen them a couple of times because life gets in the way. We spent nearly two weeks with them in New Zealand back in February so seeing them again so soon is such a treat.
Bobby is the oldest, nine years older than me. He was frequently my care giver. I remember being ridden down to Redmond Park in the summer for Tot Lot. I remember watching Abbott and Costello on Sunday mornings when everyone else had gone to Mass. I remember when the recruiter came to take Bobby away. He never really came back after that. I don't realize how much I miss him until he is back. Even with all the time and miles, a girl still needs to have someone to watch Abbott and Costello with.
With the Kiwi Snow visit came Jacob's CRapids graduation party. Again, I get all teary eyed thinking about my little guy going off to college. I think I handled it all pretty well until we actually moved him in and then it just became too much in many different ways.
Today is the actual first day of school for both Hayley and Jacob. This is Hayley's last first day of school. I sometimes think she has already graduated in her mind and is trying to figure out the day after graduation. Hayley has a plan. Plans don't always pan out. I hope she is prepared for that. Don't rush this last year. Enjoy it. You can always bunk here until the earth feels steady and you are ready to move on.
Our old CRapids house is for sale. Couldn't time the visit for the open house. I would love to walk through there again. Just to see.
On Sunday, I went to my Aunt Margaret's house for a family gathering to sort through old photos that were at my grandma's house. It was wonderful. All of my mom's siblings were there. I always get just a little pissed off at the world when I see them healthy and of sharp mind and wonder why did Mom get dementia? Why couldn't she have stayed as brilliant as the rest? Being with The Sisters, as they are called by my children, is as close as I will ever get to my mom. There is such comfort in their hugs, in their voices, in their stories. I always come away a little fuller.
I found a photo of the orginial Barron, my grandparents dog. It was very cool to see an old friend. I also found a photo of my grandpa holding me, I was pretty brand new. It was probably the only time I was happy to be held by him. I did not always see eye to eye with the man.
I learned that Sister Alice, my second grade teacher, died recently. She was in a retirement home for nuns in Omaha. She was in her ninties. I have fond memories of her. She gave me a little book of paintings by Renoir on her last day of teaching at IC. I still have the book.
I'm glad that I have Monday mornings off as they allow for some rebound time from the weekend. This Monday morning I am rebounding emotionally from just so much joy. I have a warm fuzzy that should last all week. I won't see Bobby and Sarah again before they head home. Hayley and Brett will be the last of the White's to represent. I will not get to hear all about the first day of school from either of my kinder as the bus doesn't drop them off here anymore. I have to wait a month to go through the photos again as Crissy will bring the box down for me to pick through and scan in. I have a family tree program that is ever expanding.
More than anything, I am struck by my good fortune. In this week, really in these two days, I can see where I came from and I can see where the future is headed. It is pretty cool to see where hard work and love can bring a family. I think my own kinder know that hard work and love that was put in to get them close to where they are going.
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