The out of town family from Houston and Portland joined up with the Seattle family this weekend to celebrate, among other things, 2 special birthdays. Tomorrow, Mom turns 91 and Kelan, her great grandson turns 4 . If we had tried to organize an event to include all the blood relatives and extended family, it would never have happened. But, without much planning, the weekend festivities grew into something simple but BIG, big in the sense of once in a lifetime for this particular group. Today was meant to be. The proof is in all the photographs shot at great haste at the Birthday Party held this afternoon at the Arapahoe house. Gathered all, we enjoyed cake, ice cream chaos and mayhem in the living room and dining rooms of Mom and Dad's former home. Four generations mingled and made merry for several hours amidst the chilly drizzle of a Seattle summer afternoon. (is this really August we wonder?).
There were 21 of us present today, 15 of us linked by blood and indelibly bound to the two revered elders, Dean and Doris whose legacy lives on through us. "The world just keeps moving forward" my brother remarks as he holds his first grandchild of 3 months and looks out on the gathered clan. He's right. And so the multiple generations of D/D's family: three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren plus significant others and two dear friends who agreed to take pictures of our party (thanks Heike and C.P) enjoyed the preciousness of unfolding moments in a place and time that will never be again.
My favorite shot shows Mom and Dad with their "six granddaughters and one grandson". I don't believe we have ever had a photograph of them all together. They look wonderful: Tanner, Jeanne, Carrie, Chris, Laura, Mary, and Caroline. Plus, if you look carefully you'll see Miss Lorden peaking out from behind Bama's chair. Dad, the mathematician notes that the eldest and youngest of his grandchildren span an almost perfect 20 years. Consider the blessing of sharing the room with all of them as young adults, 3 with their own children in tow. It begins to sink in: reunions like these reinforce the ties that bind us together.
And then, of course we have the "committee of five", whose younger three are fast becoming the elders to be. No rhyme intended!
What a wonderful day! They must have loved being back in their old home again with family around. Thanks so much for the beautiful pics.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe we haven't taken a picture of D&D with their grandchildren before...it just blows my mind. Funny we never thought of it.
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