trip back part 4 - people
Final installment - the best part about going back is connecting with people. One of the best things that happened was when I phoned up the farm's new owners to arrange a time to pick up the rest of my parents' stuff, and Nichole, the wife, ended up inviting us over for a play date. This picture is of her three kids (2 girls ages 6 and 4 and a boy aged 2) playing with my kids (2 girls ages 6 and 4 and a boy aged 2 - almost seems too coincidental except that she's pregnant and I am most decidedly not).
We got to know each other well over the weekend, and I would feel totally comfortable calling them up for another playdate or coffee when I am out again. I would have been at peace selling the farm to total strangers - the fact that they have become friends is such a bonus. And I can't wait to see how they restore the house.
And as always, my sister, my BIL, and my nieces and nephew bring an added measure of joy when they come. Their kids are 12, 10 and 8, and are very responsible and enjoy playing with our kids (or at least they're very good at keeping up appearances). Sharon said on the drive her kids were concerned about how to respond if my kids created a picture and asked them what they thought - they didn't want to say it's good (cause that would be lying) but they didn't want to hurt their feelings. Integrity and caring. A lot of that in our family.
I also saw a cousin or two and some aunts and uncles. Aging must be very hard to live with sometimes, when it involves pain, which is true for many of them, and dementia, which is true for one. But they are as feisty as ever, and I got my earful of how homeschooling is a terrible idea, and that all the women at church dress like hookers. We scored big points for coming around, because name-of-bad-cousin-deleted never comes around when they visit their parents. Got to remember to make the effort more, not because I don't want to get in the bad books but because people DO appreciate the effort to connect, and I too readily forget that.
We got to know each other well over the weekend, and I would feel totally comfortable calling them up for another playdate or coffee when I am out again. I would have been at peace selling the farm to total strangers - the fact that they have become friends is such a bonus. And I can't wait to see how they restore the house.
And as always, my sister, my BIL, and my nieces and nephew bring an added measure of joy when they come. Their kids are 12, 10 and 8, and are very responsible and enjoy playing with our kids (or at least they're very good at keeping up appearances). Sharon said on the drive her kids were concerned about how to respond if my kids created a picture and asked them what they thought - they didn't want to say it's good (cause that would be lying) but they didn't want to hurt their feelings. Integrity and caring. A lot of that in our family.
I also saw a cousin or two and some aunts and uncles. Aging must be very hard to live with sometimes, when it involves pain, which is true for many of them, and dementia, which is true for one. But they are as feisty as ever, and I got my earful of how homeschooling is a terrible idea, and that all the women at church dress like hookers. We scored big points for coming around, because name-of-bad-cousin-deleted never comes around when they visit their parents. Got to remember to make the effort more, not because I don't want to get in the bad books but because people DO appreciate the effort to connect, and I too readily forget that.
posted by Jude | 5:02 PM
3 Comments:
I love reading your blog. You have interesting things to say and a great style with which to say them. You should write a book. I'm sure I'd enjoy every page.
ps. Do Len and Sharon read this? If so, "HI L&S"
Isn't God good? He likes to add those "extra" blessings to things that are already good!
What a God!
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