Memories of.......

Growing up in close proximity to both sets of grandparents, Memorial Day meant many things. When I was younger, it meant hauling the Fonnesbeck set around to the cemeteries to decorate the headstones and to catch up with the other old people that seemed to hang out there. I would bide my time until we were lucky enough to go out to lunch as a family. It seemed like just payment for the time I'd spent waiting for them to converse and discuss the goings on of the last fifty or so years. It felt like years while my siblings and I waited. We did find time to run around and read the strange names that people used to be given - I say "given" because I'm not sure that they would've actually chose those names for themselves. We got a kick out of this and turned it into a game of sorts.

As I got older and more mature, I actually liked and learned to appreciate the "old ones'" conversations. Their stories became more interesting and I learned a lot about my grandparents that they might not have ever shared with me. I met and remembered my mother's aunts and uncles. They were nice people. It ended up being a nice family day with lunch as a bonus.

Now, I am lucky enough to live in close proximity to where my grandparents are buried. I still spend Memorial Day with them - visiting their grave sites, thinking of them, and sharing the stories with my own family. I have a rich heritage and I am so grateful for the chance I had to live by them, get to know them, and make memories of them. When I was little, I used to envy my cousins that got to go on vacation to visit them. They got a week full of fun. We got to help them mow their lawns, clean their houses and help do their hair. We also got to go fishing, eat fresh cinnamon rolls, and share a pepsi after the work was done. I now think they are the ones that are probably envious.

My kids are the lucky ones now. We live on the same farm as one set of their grandparents and only a short drive from the others. Life seems to move at a faster pace than it did when I was a kid. My kids seem to always be doing something - all good things, but they just seem busy. It makes it hard to spend time together as an extended family when my own is going in so many directions. Yesterday, we did have the opportunity to spend time with the Fonnesbeck families. It seemed fitting. It was a nice day. We shared the news of the day and fondly remembered some of the past. My kids got to visit with my aunts and uncles and hear some stories that maybe they wouldn't have otherwise. Glad they had that opportunity. It might not seem like much now, but they will feel very blessed one day, as I do.

Life seems to be a game of musical chairs. Time marches on and us with it. When the music stops for a brief second and you look around, you find you've moved into your parent's chair and they've taken the spot of grandparent. Things do change and they do stay the same. I'm glad. I've never been a big fan of too much change, but it's the changes that make you take note and appreciate where you've been.