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Every Friday hundreds of writers around the world join together to write freely for 5 minutes. Just 5 minutes, based on a single word prompt. No editing, no perfectionism – just writing from the heart. So, thought it’d be fun to join in.
Today’s word is: GLUE
Easter memories… That’s what’s on my mind as I prepare to head home this weekend to spend Easter with my Dad.
As a child, we spent every Easter – and Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Days, birthdays, anniversaries and every other holiday in between – gathered at my grandparent’s house. The whole family – aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws. It was the place everyone wanted to be. Home.
My grandparents were the glue that held the family together. Their house was our central gathering place and they made it home for all of us. The familiarity of being with the extended family to celebrate key milestones and events throughout the year. The menu of favorites – Aunt Ella’s green beans, my mother’s dressing, my other grandmother’s pecan pie, Kak’s ham and roast, the fruit salad with whipped cream that my Dad loved. My granddad or my dad praying over every family meal. The familiar pattern of it all.
I miss those days. Our family is smaller now and scattered across different cities. Holidays are spent in different places each year – one year with my family, one with my husband’s family, some at home. Some with lots of cousins and some with none.
What will be the glue for my children? What will stitch together their definition of family? What will be familiar and special in their memories of the holidays?
Different isn’t always bad, it’s just different. My children will have different memories, different impressions of family and holidays. That’s OK. We’ll make new memories and find new glue for our family. I just want for them to have that glue, those special family times, the memories that warm your heart. I certainly do and I’m grateful for my family and all the love that was shared.
Easter 1982 – our Family
Easter Lunch 1982. I’m sitting in Padad’s lap, with Kak standing next to me. (yes, I’m in the hat)
Easter 1983 – the year I got a live bunny. “It won’t live more than a month or two”, Dad assured my Mom. But Marshmallow grew to be an enormous rabbit and lived probably 7 years!
Easter in 1987 with my cousins. One last easter egg hunt at my grandparents house.
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joanneviola says
Sweet memories! So very true. I had the same sort of family gatherings. It is very different for my children. My husband & I try to provide those memories for our family now by having the holidays at our house for our children & grandchildren to gather. Hopefully we have become the “glue” 🙂 Loved joining you from FMF this morning! Happy Easter!
NJ Rongner says
My grandparents are also the glue of my family. Everyone (except me) still lives in my hometown. It’s 1000 miles from where I am now. it hurts knowing that they’ll all be gathering on Sunday without us. I look forward to the days when we live closer together.
These days we are making new memories with our family, but nothing beats the family gatherings from the past. I hope my kids look back fondly on our days together.
Kathryn says
I take some comfort that our kids only know the new traditions. They didn’t experience our ‘good ole days’, but they are busy making their own! Time spent together as family will make great memories!