It seems that spring has finally sprung here at Rivendell (I am sticking with this name until I think of something else).
Flowers are blooming – grass is growing at an exponential rate. Kittens are being born everywhere – anyone want one? Extra fuzzy – extra cute? Bugs – in the form of flying biting insects have arrived!
A whole new crop of chores for a whole new season. But more on that in another post.
This past weekend I had the incredible joy of hosting my two sisters in house for a trip to the 60th reunion of the high school I attended.
I booked the Friday off and they drove in Thursday night. Wine in hand and so much to catch up on.
In case I have never mentioned it – I come from a very large family. Nine children in total, with 8 girls and 1 boy. Six girls of this clan was going out Friday night to raise a little hell at the above mentioned high school reunion.
We looked FINE!!! I must say – we ran into old friends – we drank (did not drive) danced and danced. It was so much fun!!!
Saturday we planned a BBQ with more family in preparation for the big soiree I am hoping to pull off this summer with even more family.
We had way too much food as usual – drank way too much wine for a third night in a row and just had a tremendous time.
As I get older – I realise how precious time is with family and friends.
I recall being dragged to social events that included family as a child – dreading it while the “old folks” drank their beer and talked about the good old days.
I blinked – I am now one of those old folks sitting around the camp fire and drinking my wine while the children run and play.
I never really grasped the concept of why they did that back then – but I truly appreciate being able to do that now.
Since my folks passed – I find that our family has drifted apart somewhat. We are older now – we have children, jobs, lives that suck up a lot of time. The farm has chained us here somewhat (wouldn’t have it any other way). We all have so much going on in our lives that we lose track of each other. Yes – some of us keep in contact with others who keep in contact – but we don’t all keep in contact at the same time. There are rifts – like there are in every family. She said – he did – we don’t think you should – are you really doing that – did you say that to me – did you say that to him/her – the children have soccer – I can’t get away – the horses need to be fed – etc etc etc.
Time if ticking away – quickly – there are only so many years left to sit by the fire and drink beer and gossip and talk about the good old days.
I am not quite sure when I turned into my parents/aunts/uncles – I can’t pinpoint the day. I am not going to try.
I never professed to be a peace keeper – I am more of a hippie. Peace, love, joy.
I am actually sitting here thinking about how I am going to end this entry. I have no magic words – no sage advice – no quirky anecdote.
My family has always been very very important to me. Not only my immediate family but every aunt, uncle, cousin, in law, outlaw, boyfriend, girlfriend, adopted, assimilated. Every whacky member.
We are a unique bunch. We fight – we bitch – we love – we dislike – we forgive and we forget.
Family – those are the ties that bind.
Orange Acres 