Friday, March 27, 2009

Pausing to Hug and Know



My aunt and uncle from Arizona came by to visit for a few days during Spring Break this week. Always nice to have fresh faces and flowing words as the seasons change.











We played TONS of pinochle, sometimes late into the night. So hard to stop! Uncle Floyd and Caroline ponder the bidding process.



Cassie either has a good hand or a good poker face. Aunt Joyce sorts and contemplates.

Uncle Floyd tries his lips on the didgeridoo. It worked! Kangaroos and koalas came running down the street and we waltzed with Matilda.

Aunt Joyce has for decades been the family genealogist. Her book of names, dates, photos, news articles and other papers of interest has grown quite thick! Turns out my family on Dad's side came over in 1711 or so, before there was a United States of America. Three brothers from Germany with a dream. It worked out just fine. We have fought and died and lived through wars - including a winter at Valley Forge - farmed, worked for newspapers, enforced the law, started churches, fled the dustbowl, settled in California, and here we are, thriving to this day. We helped build a nation. How cool is that? Tom received a good, long lesson from Aunt Joyce who two days prior gave the girls and I a thorough education as well. (Don't feel sorry for her. She LOVES this stuff. Right, AJ?)


Cassie and Caroline enjoyed catching up with Aunt Joyce. And height-wise, they've surpassed her! They taught their great uncle and aunt how to bowl and play tennis on the Wii, they walked around our neighborhood park talking a mile a minute with them, played cards, ate, laughed, chatted from dawn to the wee hours, and got to know two people who are some of their very treasured family members.

A most pleasant happening.

10 comments:

tony said...

YOU HAVE A LOVELY FAMILY...ALTHOUGH,I WOULDNT FANCY MESSING WITH CASSIE AT THE CRD TBLE......RHH!sorry bout the typos BUT I JUST SPILLED FULL MUG OF COFFEE ON THE KEYBORD ND THE THING IS GOING BONKERS!HVE FINE WEEKEND......

deanna said...

...I hope Tony's keyboard is okay...
What a gift when you can have a nice visit like that. Your heritage sounds amazing, Cherie. And you're passing on the best pieces.

Cherie said...

Your poor keyboard, Tony. Hope you get it fixed or replace it or whatever you need to do soon.

Smart man to know you'd be wise to not mess with Cassie at the card table - she's a clever clever girl.

Deanna: Yes, a gift. A true gift. Families are amazing all the way 'round, aren't they. And what I described in this post, of course, was just one branch of the Family Tree. So much more in the rest of the tree - especially once you shake all the nuts out of it. ;)

liz crumlish said...

cherie,
Haven't stopped by in a while. Sorry. Times and seasons and all that. Glad I did today. You make a gift to all your blogging pals by sharing so freely treasured moments and memories created. Thanks. I have missed this.
Lizx

Anonymous said...

Just checked out your web wanderings to find we are 'stars'. We are reliving all the fun and hospitality! You are surely the 'hostess with the mostess'!! (I doubt that any of your readers will know that phrase from the 40's or so.) Thanks again to you all for the wonderful time. Love AJ & UF

Cherie said...

I miss you, Liz. I need to get over your way and see what you've been up to.

AJ: Surprise!! This post will mark our extraordinary moment in the sun - and rain. ;)

Patti said...

Of course she enjoyed it! So great that you enjoyed hearing it.

tshsmom said...

Good for you all!!
I only have 1 uncle left out of 7 aunts and uncles. Unfortunately, he isn't "in" to getting together with extended family. :(

This winter I've discovered that life is way too short to risk losing contact with our families.

BTW, I LOVE the wolf picture behind AJ's head! We have a wolf picture, in our living room too. ;)

Cherie said...

Tshs: Joe gave me that wolf picture for a birthday a few years back. I love it!

I know what you mean about life's too short to let connection wither. Sometimes, in some cases, it's best to cut connections - toxic people and all that. But then there are those who are wonderful who we would do well to remember and take time for. That's why Tom and I went to Arizona 5 months ago - to reconnect with a favored couple. And since then, we've kept in excellent touch - in fact, they are the ones who came to visit us last week. :)

Cherie said...

Patti: I thought of you when my aunt was sharing her genealogy.