We had an extended family dinner at my Grandpa Horrock's house last night. It was so enjoyable to see everyone and to catch up on each other's lives. My kids don't see their cousins very often and so they had a great time visiting with each other as well.
The kids were all fascinated with a "really old telephone" in the basement and they all had to take turns 'dialing' their homes. I guess one child thought it would be cool to dial 911 to see if that works too. It did.
After calling our house, Isaac came upstairs to tell me all about it. "Mom! There is this really old phone downstairs that you have to stick your finger in the hole with the number you want and turn the dial! And it works! It is so sweet!"
Sitting in my grandparent's living room, brought back so many memories. Looking around the room at all of my family members, it was very evident how much time has passed, although it seems like just yesterday that I was a little girl fighting to be the one who got to sit near the heater vent (it put out so much heat and felt sooooo good to my year round cold hands!) or trying to keep out of the pathway of one of my three uncles who teased me mercilessly about being so skinny. 'String bean' was the despised nickname given to me by my mother's brothers.
But many years have gone by, and much has changed.
For one thing, the family has grown to the point that being together in the house feels extremely crowded. There are not only children and grandchildren, but several great-grandchildren as well.
The uncles are more respectful of me and are my friends now instead of my nemesis'.
Grandma is no longer with us- but her presence is felt so strongly when the family gathers.
My cousins, whom I remember holding as babies, are now in college and getting married.
But no matter how much time goes by or how many things change, I am so grateful to be a member of this great family.
I will be forever grateful for the captain of the football team who noticed the cute cheerleader- and grateful that the cute cheerleader gave that red-headed football player a chance.
Ahhhh, sweet entry. String bean huh? I never knew that about you. I would be so honored if someone called me that anytime in my life, but especially now...I'm sort of all bloated like & bare more resemblence to a tomato at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! I especially love the part about the old telephone. And the last paragraph, too!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Christy, you are hilarious!
ReplyDeleteOh so sweet! I LOVE those kinds of family reunions.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of sad when we can remember the "old phones" and that we were actually alive for that. What's really sad is how we can remember when there were no cell phones because they were for the rich. Man does that date us or what.