It’s been two years since I’ve laid eyes on my mother and my grandmother so parden me while I get all sentimental. It’s entirely possible that something that has the word menses is on the cusp, but sticking with sentimental works for me, too.
My nephew is graduating from high school this weekend and there will be a mini-family reunion for this huge event. Kyle is my older sister’s eldest child and is unbelievably smart and handsome and fun. He has a touch of silly in him that he doesn’t let all his “cool” friends know about, but when we get to giggling about things there is no stopping us.
[sidenote: The role of Favorite Aunt will be played by me this weekend and no understudy is necessary. My younger sister, Tracy, can't possibly compete for that role since I'm the fun one. She is the Aunt who has really expensive shoes that I'll be borrowing for all the festivities so perhaps I should be nicer to her starting now because she has these really cool Jimmy Choo's that would go perfect with my dress.]
I’ve been mentally preparing myself for this weekend for a while and I’ve also been doing some homework my mother set before me: find grandma some assisted living here in my city where she wants to move her because she knows she is simply living on that borrowed time and mom wants me close when her mother is no longer with us.
Mom has also tapped me to take pictures of the entire event and she wants everyone to take a picture with grandma, who I’ll now call Marguerite since that is her name and it occurs to me that names are so important. Marguerite is still sharp as a tack and I truly can’t wait for her and my mother to come live here. Even if she forgets from time to time who we are then the pictures from this weekend will help her remember.
I used to think that no one in my family really looked alike until I got older and noticed that when I look at a picture of my sister, Erin, upside down we have the same cheekbones and jawline. Our eyes are set the same way, too. In terms of color, we come in all shades, though Tracy and I are most similar in our skin and eye color. No doubt, we’ll tease Erin about being the love child of mom and some Mexican she must have had an affair with years ago.
About 10 years ago Marguerite was taking some classes for college credit (apparently, this need to learn thing runs in the family) and was to do a paper on the history of South Dakota (where she lives) but the professor asked her to write her own life story as a South Dakotan and it turned into a great book which my aunt had published from this very small press. All the things that I didn’t know about her were finally made clear and then, for the first time, I saw her as “Maggie”, not just the woman who gave birth to my mother. It’s important I remember that view of her this weekend and not just see an old lady. Maybe I’ll try to see myself in her and get a picture of what I’ll be like someday.
Four generations will be together for the graduation, a reunion, Memorial Day, Mallory’s 20th birthday, and an early Father’s Day this weekend. My goal is to practice with my camera while doing the massive job of taking several hundred excellent decent pictures and zooming in on the faces of my family and looking for myself in their features.
I’m in there somewhere.
May 26, 2006 @ 4:54 am | Filed under Freaky Family | Permalink |
NursePam Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 5:58 am
How wonderful Kelly. I love family reunions. My mom’s mom was the coolest lady and lived to 92. I still miss her. She was so much in my life as a child and throughout my life until she died that I give her all the credit for my appreciation of old folks.
Interesting about the book. Those big old midwestern families like to do that kind of thing. We have a couple of them in my family. One talks about a covered wagon train trip to Illinois where I was born.
As for the shoes, I think it’s high time you started your own collection of very expensive and very fabulous shoes. Your feet must be asking why you have not done so already ;^)
deannie Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 6:17 am
How wonderful! I am very excited for you. It is extremely interesting to get together with family to learn all the interesting details of how we came to be and realize there are others who are just like us.
Can’t wait to see the flickr slideshows!
Have a great weekend! Many hugs,
fizzle Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 7:46 am
Family, family history is fascinating. And reunions are the best. Have a great time, I’m looking forward to seeing the pictures.
ImHir Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 7:48 am
Another touching piece.
Peace,
V
Dana Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 8:57 am
Kelly!! Why do ya always got make me tear up when I read your stuff? My co-workers are lookin’ at me and askin’ me if I’m ok!
I said, “Yes, I’m just reading Mocha’s blog…” The looks of “What’s a blog??” are hilarious!
I freakin’ love ya, girl!
Ron Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 9:48 am
Hey girl,
Well, here I am! I broke my mental block about leaving messages here. I have been reluctant since converting means that MSN is a distant memory for Mocha Momma. But, I may be following your example very soon.
Hope the Reunion is all that you imagine and hope it to be. I know what it feels like……as you know I hadn’t seen my family in more than 10 years before going home last September. It was more than I could have ever imagined.
Love and hugs,
Ron
QofS Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 10:52 am
Have a great time. And take lots of fun pics for us to see.
Belinda Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 2:56 pm
Know what? I love you.
J to the Wall Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 2:57 pm
NEWMAN!! Look at the color of the box!
Anyway…my favorite things that I own are my grandparents things. I am 29 and have no grandparents left. My mom’s dad died on Christmas Eve when I was 2. My other grandpa did when I was in the 6th grade. My dad’s mom died the day “The Wizard of Oz” opened that I was directing in 2002 and my mom’s mom died last spring. I am SO thankfull for all of the pictures, dishes, furniture, etc. that I got from all of them. I wish I had more time with them and I cannot wait to see them all again someday. I took them for granted and now I miss them so much. I am very excited for you that your grandma wants to move closer. I can’t wait to meet her!
Jen
MizAngie Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
Families are weird, fun, difficult, and loving all rolled into one. Enjoy!!
Honor Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 8:33 pm
You’ve got a lovely space here, Kelly. I’m a bit tardy in my first visit, but it certainly won’t be my last.
A few years ago, my Mom-in-law (hubby’s step-mother)put together a photo album for hubby’s maternal grandmother that contained photos of everyone in the family. It included names, ages, birthdates, and a mini family tree and where each person fell on the tree. It was a wonderful help when Grandma could no longer recall our names or even that we were family. We could point to our photos and say, “Look, Grandma, my name is Honor, and I’m married to B.” She SO appareciated that little album, and still has it sitting next to her chair.
I hope you and your family have a lovely weekend. Take care and enjoy each other.
Honor
katy Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 9:10 pm
The love of learning is probably what keeps her sharp as a tack.
KM
mtcutie Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
Hey Mocha,
Ya I guess my blog was a little TOO random packed! But hey I’ve been on sick leave for almost 6 months I’ve had a LOT of time to notice stupid random shit like the stuff I talked about.
You are part of MANY that agree on The Family Stone sucking BIG time… I Really wouldn’t classify it as a comedy either… I’d love to chat with whoever came up with that idea?
Although my text book celebrity status is awesome it’s never gotten me on a red carpet! LoL
It sounds like you have a family fun packed weekend. I always thought I had ZERO features in common with my mom or my dad. I definitely don’t see any resemblance with my brother and I but everyone else does.
It wasn’t until a trip to Portugal when I was 16 that I realized that I really DID have similar features to at least one of my parents.
I rode my bike to the village cemetery to visit my grandmother’s grave site (my father’s mother). I went alone and was minding my own business laying flowers on my grandmother’s marble raised plot. I was cleaning off dry leaves that had fallen from the windy night before… when all of a sudden a complete stranger approached me. She was this really old woman dressed all in black… she walked towards me slowly, painfully hunched over with tears in her eyes.
When she reached me she put her hand on my face (Which I thought was weird and felt uncomfortable) and she called me Maria. She thought I was a young ghost of my grandmother. This woman says I was a splitting image of my granny at a young age. She died when I was young so I don’t remember her but if this woman was THAT convinced I must have had a HUGE resemblance to her.
Later she told me it wasn’t my features that first drew her to me but my walk… she said that I walk JUST like her… amazing the thing we can inherit, isn’t it?
mt
Jade Said,
May 26, 2006 @ 11:48 pm
I see features from my mother’s family every time I look into the mirror. The most outstanding (and perhaps endearing) is that all the women have the same hands. I’m the last surviving female from the Fitzgerald-Selman side it’s up to me to keep passing on the genes. I am happy to say that Mikaila has our hands too.
As for the Jimmy Choos. That, my darling Mocha, is worth so much more than a little schmoozing and playing nice. I’d even give a pedicure to borrow those
I’ve got a wine suggestion up, btw. Just for you. ‘Cause you asked.
M
Caffeinated Librarian Said,
May 27, 2006 @ 5:23 am
Hey Honey!
Have fun this weekend. I will also be going home today, but it’ll be just me and my mother, hunting wascally weptiles. *Insert Elmer Fudd laugh here*
You know it’s funny, friend of my mom who never knew my dad say I look like her but I’ve never really seen it. My mom, with her mix of Cajun, Hispanic and German (just to make it interesting) is honey skinned and has dark, think curly hair. Whereas me - anyone who ever knew my dad when he was alive comments that I most have sprung out of his head full grown like Athena ’cause I look just like him: red hair that turns brown in the summer, painfully pale skin that burns but never tans, high forehead and unfortunate chin - all that great Scotch-Irish heritage coming out in spades.
Maybe I’ll try to see more of myself in my mother this weekend besides our shared profession (that will give me something to do while I’m holding the vacuum and baseball bat).
Caffeinated Librarian Said,
May 27, 2006 @ 5:34 am
Whoop…winter not summer for the hair color change. And NO it doesn’t come out of a bottle - the sun does it all on it’s own. (So there!)
Natalie Said,
May 27, 2006 @ 8:16 am
In just three short weeks, “S” will be meeting my mom for the first time. I’m looking forward to it. I don’t look like my mom (not much, anyway; I look more like her father) but we have the same mannerisms, the same hearty laugh, the same sparkle in our eyes. I recently met a friend of my mom’s and she mentioned this and said she could tell I was my “mother’s daughter.”
That was a proud moment for me. My mom… is the bestestesses…
Family reunions can be so weird. And entertaining in a “Omg, I’m gonna blog that!” kinda way. lol
We will be packing, suffering the heat, and hopefully able to spray each other down with the hose… while trying to flush the blue, antibacterial handsoap out of S’ windshield wiper fluid container. Yep. She did that.
It’s gonna be a bubbly kinda weekend.
Enjoy yours!
Natalie
Gill Said,
May 28, 2006 @ 7:55 am
Ahh, Mocha. Thank heavens you are trimming down to one spot. I was about to become un-engaged, because my darling does not understand why I spend so much time reading this stuff, instead of talking to him. (As soon as I get off the computer, we go sit together on the couch and he picks up The Economist, and the tables turn). Enjoy your reunion and your grandmother. My grands are all long gone, and as I prep for my wedding I’m wishing they could have seen it. Sounds like you will cherish your moments! G
Ron Said,
May 28, 2006 @ 8:44 am
HEY KELLY!
Just stopped by to wish you a HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
HUGS,
Ron
kathryn magendie Said,
May 28, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
Love the new look! stopping by for a cuppa
Yvonne Said,
May 29, 2006 @ 2:16 am
Kelly. I hope you have a fantastic weekend filled with love, laughter and memories. The photo album for “reminding” sounds like a very gentle and thoughtful idea. I can’t wait to see all the photo’s. Give my to Ken and the kids.
And we need to set up out next international phone call time/date. I fear I am suffering withdrawals…… I NEED to hear that sexy voice again soon!
Mwah. Yvonne
Tom Stormcrowe Said,
May 29, 2006 @ 4:53 pm
Here’s hoping you had a great Memorial Day and a good time with the family!
Kelly Said,
May 29, 2006 @ 8:35 pm
Look at you with the new website! I like it…good job.
I love to hear stories about my ancestors…I come from a small family and my 92 year old grandma is all that’s left to tell me all the secret family stories. I keep thinking I’ll tell my family history on my blog…I just haven’t done that yet.