Mamies Family Reunion

Nothing is Lost

Deep in our sub-conscious, we are told

Lie all our memories, lie all the notes

Of all the music we have ever heard

And all the phrases those we loved have spoken,

Sorrows and losses time has since consoled,

Family jokes, out-moded anecdotes

Each sentimental souvenir and token

Everything seen, experienced, each word

Addressed to us in infancy, before

Before we could even know or understand

The implications of our wonderland.

There they all are, the legendary lies

The birthday treats, the sights, the sounds, the tears

Forgotten debris of forgotten years

Waiting to be recalled, waiting to rise

Before our world dissolves before our eyes

Waiting for some small, intimate reminder,

A word, a tune, a known familiar scent

An echo from the past when, innocent

We looked upon the present with delight

And doubted not the future would be kinder

And never knew the loneliness of night.

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since my Mother died. It is still so very surreal to me.....like a dream that I will awake from. I have had to stop myself from reaching for the phone to call her.....crying as I realize that I can't just pick up the phone to hear her beautiful voice...her words that always made my world so bright.

We had a family gathering on Saturday at my grandparents old farmstead, which is now a park. We had the most wonderful time. The children played, in the delightful and innocent way that children play. We shared stories of Mom and I made four of her recipes that my Mamie had always loved.....trying my best to keep my Mom's generous heart and spirit near.

Here are some images from our day......

Emma Sage and her cousin Ronan peeking through brick fence.

Princess Fiona, this little girl is such a treasure.

Welcome.....a word I love.

Mamie and Me.....I'm the oldest of 12 grandchildren and there are now 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Otto and Mamie.....Otto looks so much like my PopPop, whom I loved so dearly. The bench they are sitting on is a bench in the little alcove that is named for my grandfather.

Kelsy and Gabriel.....Kelsy is such a wonderful big sister.

This is as many of the great-grandchild we could gather at one time, without some of the little ones toddling off. There is one stow-away in the picture....Otto's best friend Michael come with us to the family reunion.

Kesly, Greta and Gabriel. Greta was so blessed to be at Gabriel's birth, as she wants to get her RN and Midwifery degree after highschool.

The whole gang heading off to hunt for sharks teeth.......little Miss was way behind with Mommy and yelled for help....guess how stopped to wait for her. Her beloved Uncle Mikey [my little brother, whom I love so dearly]

I have more pictures to share, but alas....time is running short and I must head to bed as I have been so very tired lately.