Sunday, October 21, 2007

Dear God,

When I saw Annie sitting in a seat beside gate number 3, I remembered that I had not spent time with my cousin since we both lived in Tipton when we were 10 years old. We are both 61 years old.

I had invited my older aunts to join me in Maine initially because I missed my mother. They were both very close to Mom and had traveled to Maine together several years ago. I wanted to spend time with them because I love them both very much. We lived in the same towns when I was growing up. They are a very special part of my life. I had hoped to share memories of Mom and their trip here. And, of course, memories of the past.

After inviting two aunts, I invited my girl cousins, my sister and niece. (I knew my children could not come.) Reconnecting with my family could provide a wonderful time for all. But as time got closer (I planned this a year ago) my aunts told me they could not come. Aunt Jodie is taking care of her ailing husband who has Parkison's and Aunt Caroline provides for her 90+ year old mother. My cousin Lori is helping her best friend who recently lost her teenage son, her husband and a nephew all in separate tragedies.

So what that meant was that my cousin Annie, my sister Debbie and my niece Missy would join me. I have to admit I was disappointed my aunts and cousin Lori could not come. They could tell me about Mom and Maine.

When I hugged Annie at the airport, I figured you had something in store for all of us. You would resurrect old memories and teach us something new about family.

It was 9:00 p.m. by the time we all rendezvoused at my house. And before we knew it we were all wrapped up in laughter. For some reason we were all in the dining room. I was barefoot. Debbie had on just one sock. And we started talking about feet. We looked at each other's feet, toes, bunions and one of us discovered we even had a fungus. The others took off their socks and we compared toes to see if we had inherited the same toe genes. We laughed and laughed and laughed.

We were off to a good start. And I fell asleep in the knowledge that perhaps this small group was the group intended to come after all.

Wise and Generous God,
families are filled
with memories,
glad and sad.
Annie and I
covered all the sad ones
at the airports
and in the car
on the ride home.
So the toes
were the beginning
of the glad.
Thanks.

Love, Andy