This picture came up in my phone memories, and I noticed, as I hadn't before, that it captures a perfect moment in time from our trip to Dallas last May to celebrate little Harper turning two. This was in the afternoon after all the birthday party guests had left and only family members remained, and the vibe was entirely chill. That's my husband, my daughter, her husband, and Harper's mommy in the pool, the newly minted 2-year-old in the foreground, and libations, cabana towels, and pool toys scattered all around. I simply had to share.
My daughter (center) and two of my nieces happen to have been in Dallas again last week, having decamped for an aunties week with their niece, and pool time with their cousin and sister, and, as the pictures they sent me attest, some hot air balloon time as well. I told them I was going to crash one of their auntie weeks in the future, as I sat in New York feeling FOMO, but also really enjoying the idea that these four young women have each other, that they remain closer than ever in adulthood. Truly, they have taken the lesson of my mother and her eight siblings to heart, to foster familial closeness down through the generations. My mother's generation taught us to hold these bonds sacred. The lesson took root in my generation, and is now expressing itself beautifully in my children's. My cousin Karen and I often remark that this sense of family bequeathed by "the nine" is our parents' greatest gift to us, as it was their parents greatest gift to them.
And guess who are on their way to New York City at this very moment. My Dallas niece and her husband, and their precious little ball of main character energy, will arrive at close to midnight tonight, and will be with us until Tuesday morning. My son will be picking them up from the airport and delivering them here—cousin bonds again. It's an unexpected trip. A relative of Harper's daddy who lived in Brooklyn passed away, and the funeral is on Monday. A sad reason, but I didn't know this person, so I'm not abashed to say that I am completely primed to enjoy my Dallas crew for the few days I will have them under my roof.
Years from now, I will look at these pictures and see no hint of the other stories simultaneously unfolding in the world. Will I feel guilty about that, I wonder.
Love the photos and love how close your family is. It's not easy being family but you make it look easy.
ReplyDeleteI think it all the time and I'll say it again, you have the most amazing extended family that I've ever known.
ReplyDeleteI think the feeling of family and the resulting bonds are the most important thing we can pass down also. It helps to be close in distance too, at least until they grow up. So hard to do otherwise.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy, family is what counts.
ReplyDeleteYour family's closeness is so incredibly sustaining. If you feel guilty down the line for remembering these beautiful times, I'll come to NY and slap you silly (although you'll have to give me your address to do it). ;) You just made me think that assuming we come through this, and I believe that long-term we will, it's the memory of times like these that will be one of our real triumphs. No matter what, we can't lose our capacity for joy.
ReplyDeleteOh, Rosemarie. So much beauty and strength in every one of the individual bonds holding all of you together, lending each other your strength and your light.
ReplyDeleteThe auntie years. I love that so much. I see it on a much smaller scale with my daughters and I love it.
Your family gives me hope. And I hope you do look at those pictures years from now without remembering all the horrid stuff going on around us.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to hear how close your family is even when spread out across the country. It looks so joyful!
ReplyDeleteYour mother's generation did well to foster these bonds across time, a great gift indeed. Your closing sentence resonates; it too reaches across time. I find it fascinating. Well done, writer.
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