Over Memorial Day weekend, I made a quick visit to my hometown to attend my aunt’s 90th birthday celebration. It was as you might expect: a crowded upstairs room of the local social club, pictures of club leaders past and present hung neatly on the walls, round tables, stackable chairs, food and drink. Yet, during the three-hour reception,
life passed before my eyes.
I greeted aunts, uncles, cousins, life-long family friends, many acquaintances, and even my first grade teacher. My parents and grandparents (deceased several years ago) presented themselves in brief vignettes shared by those who knew them well. At the same time, the squeals and darned-cuteness of little ones punctuated conversations of anticipated weddings, graduations, and impending births.
Each of us whirled about in a reunion of souls.
Of course, it was my aunt’s day, and she was spectacular. At every turn, a different person – a different memory – greeted her, embraced her. At every turn, the next how’ve-you-been update offered celebration or grief. At every turn, a new recollection of life shared, of love incarnate.
It was my aunt’s day, yet each of us rode our own memory-go-round. And, when all was said and done, we smiled, turned again, and moved on to the next thing.
Quote
Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. Lao-Tzu
Web
Enjoy this memory-go-round song: Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds (listen now)
I greeted aunts, uncles, cousins, life-long family friends, many acquaintances, and even my first grade teacher. My parents and grandparents (deceased several years ago) presented themselves in brief vignettes shared by those who knew them well. At the same time, the squeals and darned-cuteness of little ones punctuated conversations of anticipated weddings, graduations, and impending births.
Each of us whirled about in a reunion of souls.
Of course, it was my aunt’s day, and she was spectacular. At every turn, a different person – a different memory – greeted her, embraced her. At every turn, the next how’ve-you-been update offered celebration or grief. At every turn, a new recollection of life shared, of love incarnate.
It was my aunt’s day, yet each of us rode our own memory-go-round. And, when all was said and done, we smiled, turned again, and moved on to the next thing.
Quote
Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. Lao-Tzu
Web
Enjoy this memory-go-round song: Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds (listen now)
RSS Feed