This tree sits on my sisters property in Arva, Ontario. (Southern Ontario) – and this picture does not do this tree justice!
This tree is one of the first things that I saw when I arrived to my sisters on July 28th to attend an much anticipated family reunion.
I was unable to attend the last one in 2008 so I made sure that I was on point to attend this one.
My sister work tirelessly arranging every tiny little detail – Huge Applause please!!!
Onward – my other sister and I arrived on Thursday (ya I have lots of sisters) to assist in whatever way we possibly could because the big day was Saturday July 30th.
We spent the afternoon on Thursday and the better part of Friday organizing – drinking wine – swimming in the pool – and drinking wine – oh did I mention we had wine?
The weather – oh it was stellar – hot and sunny – perfect reunion weather.
Saturday morning (day of reunion)- we wake up – to rain – rain rain rain rain rain – son of a…!!!
BUT we had a massive tent to which we could congregate and eat and drink.
That my friends is when the fun started.
Family arriving – familiar faces – some not as – but family – so many people. I had forgotten how large our family is.
As cars were arriving and people were exiting I saw faces – faces I had not seen in years – faces I had never seen but knew and I felt an overwhelming sense of home.
Cousins I had hung out with as a kid have all grown up and have kids of their own – when did that happen?
Aunts and Uncles who while are older – still are the sophisticated cool grown ups I watched at family functions.
Two aunts that bore the most uncanny resemblence to my mother and grandmother – I had to do a double take!!
Aunt Heather – dear sweet nutty aunt Heather who looks like she stepped right out of the time of childhood to now and dear Uncle Greg who I did not get a chance to know as a child but we have so much in common.
Aunt Teresa and Uncle Tim have not aged a day!!! The time we spent at the farm as children and then taking my children there to run and play!!
Aunt Lynn -Uncle Pat – so helpful- so very very funny – Oh Lord – I can’t wait to spend more time with them as well.
I do not even know who to mention or to shout out to – writing this it is all flooding back. Such an amazing perfect day.
I am ashamed of myself for not keeping in touch with everyone and not making more of an effort.
But like most – life gets in the way and work and – and – and this and that and the other thing.
So what does all this have to do with the tree you ask?
Well that tree – that tree I am sure has been around for many many many years and God willing will be around for many many many more.
It is majestic and proud – like our family – with it’s branches reaching up to the sky and welcoming us as if to say – come in please and make yourself at home.
Family – those are ties that bind.
THIS is all of us!! – we are a formidable bunch and I love each and every one of you.
Who knows when we will all be together again but I’d like to take a moment to thank my sister Cindy, her hubs Ted and Sammy and Chrissy for allowing us all to descend into your space for a few days.
I’d like to thank Keith – Aunt Heather, Uncle Greg, Andrea, Tom and Petey for rocking out with us to really really bad karoke – if I missed anyone – I am sorry – I had a couple glasses of wine 🙂
To my sister Lynda for making the trip with me and singing epic Eagles tunes there and back.
Orange Acres 