Summer?

"Summer Vacation" is almost over.  Of course Summer really is barely started and  isn't over until almost the end of September, but that is another pet peeve of mine  altogether. 

Im not sure where the time as gone but I know that it has gone furiously.  Since the middle of May, our business has changed major locations twice and may now be kind of splitting "home base locations"  Of course HOME BASE, is right here.  This is one of the interesting parts of this business, HOME BASE is here and BASE OF OPERATIONS is where ever the work happens to be at the moment.  We are working with a wonderful company that is trying very hard to keep us busy and our work load keeps increasing exponentially with all that goes with those increases. 

Family Reunion in South Texas

     And the party began with a prayer.  Well not really began, just for us.  We were late getting there< as usual, some would say>.  I don't apologize as we were very tired.  I had been up well over 24 hours when I went to bed and we had all 4 worked very hard in the days leading up to us going south for the weekend.  When my alarm went off, I turned it off and honestly was JUST going to close my eyes for a few more minutes before I had to wake everyone.  That few more minutes turned in to an hour and a half before the big guy in the red shirt woke up.  I still had to go and bake my cobblers that were my contribution to a wonderful spread of food. And so, we were late. 
      But, as I say, our part began with a prayer.  The big blue-Hair by the pillar was asked by his Aunt to offer the blessing over the food.  Usually Uncle Sonny does it but this time, they decided that it was time to start passing some of the traditions on to other generations and since Blue Boy, is a locally liscensed minister in spite of his young 17 years, it was time to ask him to do it.  "Mom, What do I do?"  I gave him the best piece of advice I knew.. Pray, son, just pray over the food and bless us all.

After the dinner bell was rung, we all filled our plates and found a place to sit and eat and swap tall tales. This is Texas after all.  The food was wonderful and very filling.  I think we could have fed another army besides.  It was good to catch up on each others lives as well.Deep conversations of the oil and gas industry from several different points of view.  Amazing how corners are turned to take us places we had no idea we were going.  And some of them full circle back to where we started.

Discussions of continuation of college, and moving to other places.  Spending time with cousins, and friends.  Laughter is a great sound. 

Sharing experiences of recent retirements and new days to come over a juicy slice of cold water melon,  Does it get better than this?

Can you imagine this being the window to your world every summer?  I would never cook in the house all summer if this were my house.  Just the serenity of that space would move me to tears every day.  Even though the kids said NO!  Aunt Linda, Would you adopt me? 

Then, Uncle Harold took all the kids to see the cows.  What a treat for the kids who don't get to see those things very often.  And the cows LOVE cow candy!!!  And kids love cows.  And, getting to meet REAL COWBOYS!!!

I brought the scrapbook that I started from the very first year I attended  2004.  I would love it if someone would add the 9 years in between to it or send me pictures from those years. 
I really did have a grand plan for that scrap book but as we all know, sometimes time slips away from us, no matter what our intentions.

 

 

Maybe a joke or two was told, or maybe just a "do you remember the time when?" That brought about the bright smiles.

 

While the laughter and frolicking continued in groups around the house,  others were more content with more intimate conversations away from the fun. 

Each was able to enjoy the day in his or her own way. 

  

 And THEN,   

                                                        

 Sigh, we were done.

Linda, and Harold, I want to tell you, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you put in to doing this,  Thank you for all the hugs for me and mine and the wonderful support for our endeavors in this life,  and thank you for sharing your world with us.  As for me, and mine, we love you more than you will probably ever know. 

 

What a difference a year makes.

Holidays tend to do this to me.  Make me sit down and take notice.  As I think about it, I realize that Independence Day is less steeped in family tradition as some other days.  Still, it is a family holiday for our clan.  Honestly, there isn't a holiday that ISNT a family holiday.  Thanksgiving tends to be the holiday that we offer to share with others more than any other, but I digress. 

As my family circle declines in size, I wonder what will be next for us. 

Family Reunion

Last Thrusday, the alarm went off at 6:30, as usual.  This day, however, I jumped right out of bed to meet the day.  I had miles to go before I slept, quite literally.  There was a very long list of things that needed to be done at work before I could easily leave town for a few days.  So, I spend the day going through my usual routine and adding anything in that will fit that needs to be done.