Family Reunion

My family on my mom’s side just had a family reunion today, June 4, 2016, the first in Southern Indiana, I believe. Most years they were held in Southern Illinois in July because my mother’s parents lived there, and July was sure to be hot and dry. At least I think those are the reasons. The one today I didn’t attend and tonight I’m missing my cousins so. Colorado seems so far away.

I’m almost 70 years old now and have been attending family reunions with these relatives (and so many who have died) all my life. I don’t remember any bad times, no arguments, certainly no fist fights or gun battles. My memories are filled with good times, laughter, and fun with cousins. I could write a book about those reunions but instead I’d like to make a list of abstract memories, snips of images etched on my mind like those captured in the flashbulbs of old-time cameras.

The squeak of the porch swing

Lighting bugs in the yard

Grandma’s chuckles amid the soft southern voices of each of her kids

Sleeping on pallets in the living room

Cousins piled up on the feather beds

Pillows damp with perspiration and mattresses that smelled of pee

The grape vine outside the bedroom window

The chiffrobe, chamber pot, and quilts in the bedroom

Grandpa calling out "Verlie, Verlie", and her quiet answer, “Oh, Wil.”

Grandma with her snuff, rose water glycerin, her only cologne
Grandpa in his white socks, black coal dust stains on his ears

The distinctive odor of lime in the outhouse

Cucumbers planted on hills

Mulberries staining the ground

The smoke house that no longer smoked hams

Piles of scrap metal by the garage

Coffee grounds saved and spaded for fishing worms

Green apples in the trees beside the house

Mustard worms on the sidewalk

Iced tea and lemonade, made with real lemons

Dew berries growing low along the road

Blackberries and chiggers seemed to go hand in hand

Lois’s store for candy and orangesicles

Cousins arriving by car to squeals of excitement

Grandpa sitting in those cars turning the knobs, playing the radios

So many cooks in the kitchen, adding beans to the pot

Uncle Todge came in the door as a one-man carnival

Talking like Donald Duck

Giving out candy from his pocket

Making us laugh and loving his antics.

Aunt Betty and her stories, oh, she could tell good stories

Never cut her hair and always wore dresses with sleeves

But first to jump into Harco Lake

And splash and chase and act like a kid

Uncle Jay took a personal interest in every one of us

Remembered the old times, the names and dates

Never talked of his hardships, his time in the Army

Loved us unconditionally and we felt the same about him

Aunt Tootsie is what we called her

And I don’t know why

She was the take-charge sister who got things done

Kept an eye on us kids and we knew she saw everything

Aunt Barbara didn’t make it down home as often as the others

She had four kids and Uncle Jim in Indiana

So when they did arrive we celebrated big

Took those kids around and showed them everything

Aunt Lou was a little on the fringes

Liked her cigarettes and drink

But loved her family, every one

Had a sad little smile that spoke of a sad, sad life

I saved my mom for last, Mil, to all her family

She reverted to a little girl when she came down home,

Giggled and laughed, called me Betty instead of Pam

The only time she was truly happy was when she went down home.

I love you all, my cousins, I hope you know that

We share lots of memories and good genes too

Most of us are healthy and have families of our own

May our love for one another and our reunions continue forever...