The wisdom of the ages

Home again after a wonderful weekend back in the Berkshires (unfortunately solo, Rich stayed at home with the puppies). I had the opportunity to spend more time with my mom and uncle from Seattle as well as see my sister and her family from PA. But that was just the beginning!

Fall has arrived in Berkshire County, or at least that was the rumor, but Friday afternoon and evening were sweltering. Hot and humid like the south! After that, Mother Nature settled down and gave us cool, fresh breezes to go with the fall colors and quickly falling leaves. Dry weather will make for earlier-than-usual bare trees.

Saturday was our family reunion where I saw relatives I haven't seen in 32 years. Well, don't we all look a bit different!! My father came from a family of 11 children so with spouses, children, ex's etc. it makes for a pretty large and varied bunch. Of course we had only a small subset of the whole group but it was fascinating to see aunts and uncles, who I had previously only known and viewed through a child's eyes, from an adult perspective. And to hear their stories of growing up and behaving like kids-it was really entertaining.

Seeing all of these older family members can't help but make you feel grounded and attached to a larger whole. Since we have never lived close to any family (mine or Rich's) for any length of time, it was a special opportunity to reconnect. Most importantly, this aging group got to spend a pleasant afternoon together - and for a happy reason, not another funeral. Even one brother who was missing was able to talk to everyone on the phone. I think everyone left with a smile in their heart. Wish the other couple of missing folks could have been there.

And I think I received the best gift of all. Not only did I see alot of faraway but familiar faces, I had a chance to glimpse, over both weekend visits, something I've always wondered about. My dad died 3 days after my 22nd birthday so I never had the blessing of an adult relationship with him. I've wondered so often what that would have felt like. My Uncle Rick looks SO MUCH like my dad, has similar mannerisms - and political views!! At first it was eerie spending time with him. But I quickly realized what a gift this was for me. I had this little window of time to see what it might have felt like, how the conversations might have gone, a bit of what I missed. It was wonderful!! I could not have asked for a more heartwarming visit and am looking forward to the time when I can travel back to the west coast to see him again.  

So now it's back to school (tonight) and, I hope, subbing to earn some money. While we continue to plan for a future change of address (when???), we will start working on all those home improvement projects and spend time enjoying Maine while we can. Cuz after all..."it's the way life should be"!