The Family Of Huggable People...

My Mom and Baby Sis are off to Georgetown, Texas this weekend for a family reunion. Actually, I should say THE Reunion. As far back as I can remember, that's how we always referred to it...THE Reunion! They are meeting Big Sis who is already there from North Carolina. Relatives come from all over to get together for this big family get-together. I am not going for several reasons, but I will be there in spirit .

Georgetown has been the home of The Reunion as long as I can recall and I remember it very fondly, but the town I remember is not the same today as the town I see in my memories. That is one of the reasons I won't be there.

Gone are the old wagon crossings that made great swimming holes and fishing spots, covered with a man made lake. Gone is the glorious spot by the dam in the city park where many a child learned to swim , where couples held hands as they walked carefully across the water swept stones and where countless hours were spent by the young and the young at heart in the wonderful art of fishing for fishing's sake. All done in by the careless acts of land grabbers and profit seekers that somehow are allowed to poison both the environment of today and the memories of yesterday .

Unless action is taken soon, all the small towns across our once great and beautiful country will suffer the same fate. The remaining grass in the parks where picnics used be held by families on Sunday and reunion memories were started and shared by generations will instead be landscaped by signs that read "No Walking On The Grass" and the park benches that used to be for the use of old men and young couples will be empty because of the signs that read " No Loitering" and the drugstore counter where you could sit for a couple of hours and talk will have been replaced by coffee shops with no redeeming character, signs hanging on the wall that say "Seating Limited To One Hour".

For now, I'll be content remembering all the cousins and aunts and uncles the way they have always been...huggable. I'm fortunate that most all my relatives are huggable and that for me, makes for a lot of good memories. I've never been to a family function of any kind where hugs were not a part of the whole process. Hugs are a natural human reaction to other people. Happy hugs, comforting hugs, friendly hugs, loving hugs, hugs from children and, of course, virtual hugs from all our virtual friends!

So let's all do our share to make today a better day by sharing a smile, holding somebody's hand and let's all give each other a big hug! Now...how about a fresh cup of coffee ?