The Reunion Is Over...

I don't know why I thought that this year might be different. Wishful thinking, I guess...

All in all, there was a good time to be had by all! Plenty of food, that's for sure! I have to admit that the women folk of my family can produce some of the most excellent tasting and pleasing snacks bar none!

All of the nieces and nephews were there, along with the grand nieces! Even though my sister from North Carolina couldn't be there, my baby sis was there! Quite a gal, my baby sis! She and her DH are active in their local theatre, she and my mom have recently joined the D.A.R., she is an excellent cook and can sew. In fact, baby sis and my mom and my sister in N.C. are all good cooks and craft folks! Pretty handy people to have around, especially at parties and reunions!

Lots of card games, picture taking, coffee talk at the patio table, all the things that make a get together a lot of fun!

However, there was a personal dark spot for me. The reason we hold the reunion at this time of year, is because it is close to my dad's birthday. Even though he has been gone for a long time, we get together to honor his memory!

You see, my family name is King. I was the only boy in a family of four children. All my sisters married and of course, their names changed when that happened. As the last male member of my family after my dad died, it was up to me and my two sons to carry on the family name!

That's sort of an archaic way of thinking, I guess, but I was proud of my family name. I'm still proud of my family name, but I am afraid that the pride will pass when I do. Neither of my sons share that pride and sense of family. Neither shows any wish to involve them selves in the mundane happening of the King family. The history of our family has no interest to them. The health and well being of the family members is of no concern for them. They have no interest in sharing the joy of making new memories, sharing the old ones, getting to know the cousins, in even being any part of our family...of MY family!

Because of this attitude, I never get to see my grand children. I have two that I have never seen, and probably never will ! The other I get to see when ever my oldest decides to bring her over, which isn't often.

There is a lot of irony in that situation, for sure. Here I am, an aging grand father beginning to realize that the twilight years of my life will be spent without the comfort and support of my only sons, without the loving visits of grand children I can tell stories to, without young ears to listen to the stories of family members and get togethers long past, without Christmas gatherings where the joy and excitement of children would act as a tonic to an old man!

Suddenly...I feel very old! Very old indeed! Just realizing my mortality, I guess! You know, there is a song by Frank Sinatra that seems appropriate at this time, if you don't mind!



Sorry, I didn't mean to get so moody today. Just the ramblings of an old man feeling his age, I reckon...

Now, let's get some coffee and sit on the patio, my friend. Don't mind me if I don't say too much today, alright?