I had a busy week here in Plymouth. My cousin Edna Marie visited from South Carolina. We stopped on the way to papa's house and picked up her niece Katie (turns out she lives 20 minutes from papa). Katie graduated from high school last week - what a nice young woman with a really level head on her shoulders. She got to meet papa (her 2nd cousin) and I captured a really great picture of the two of them. We had a memorial service for Edna Marie's mom who passed a little bit ago. We were very lucky in that it rained the whole night before and cleared up in time for the outdoor ceremony at the cemetery. It was also nice to see a few cousins that papa has not seen in quite long time. We had a wonderful lunch after and got to see pictures of family and catch up on our lives. Papa was thrilled to see everyone and had a few pictures taken with them. It was so interesting to see how many family similarities are present whether it be looks or mannerisms. I also realized that none of us are getting any younger and how we need to capture the stories and memories of our history.
Although I love company, I always get a little stressed trying to ensure the person has a good time. Luckily, Edna Marie was so easy going and knew I had a lot on my plate already so we played each day by ear. We did have a little celebration for my parents "60th" wedding anniversary at the nursing home and it went very well. The cake was beautiful with a picture from their wedding day and I had roses added as papa always buys her roses and their original wedding pictures were taken in the Rose Garden at Franklin Park. Mema enjoyed the company and the cake - did she remember it was their anniversary? Probably not, but she knew she was surrounded by love.
I spent a lot of the week driving in the car. I can tell because my back and legs are all stiff. I am truly appreciating my walks with Lady. I even bend over and hang there when she stops to smell the flowers. Looking forward to a chiro appointment this coming week to help put everything back in place.
I spent a lot of the past week either thinking or talking about family. There are no perfect families and I believe we all have skeletons in the closet. I do find it interesting how stories can be misinterpreted and then become the basis for family feuds. People, whether it be the past or present, make decisions with the best intentions. As we all know there are consequences to every decision ever made. In my family history there were decisions made that have no impact on me, they were made at the time to keep family together no matter what. I find it interesting that many in next generation think that they have the right to question many of the decisions when almost everyone involved passed a long time ago. I keep thinking of the movie "Frozen"..."LET IT GO, LET IT GO." You can't change the past so just find it interesting and learn from it. Oh well, I'm sure there are others out there without perfect families or with an interesting story or two.
Papa had a good day yesterday as he got to go fishing with by brother-in-law and nephew. Although he did not catch anything he enjoyed being out there and giving it a try. They went to Scusset Beach and there is a pier he could pull up his sitting walker and chill. They have already planned to go out this coming weekend on Captain John's boat from Plymouth Harbor for some deep sea fishing.
There are a couple of movies out that I'm trying to figure out a way to see this week. Perhaps I can do something on Saturday while papa is out with the boys. It's all about playing with my day so as to not disrupt his schedule or what he expects me to do.
I finally finished a book this past week. "TEN THOUSAND SAINTS" by Eleanor Henderson. It's a coming of age type novel based in Vermont and New York City in the 1980s and the underground scene. I found it somewhat difficult to read, but full of life lessons. So many topics covered that for me it was a bit overwhelming. This book was from a listing of the top 20 books to read and I have a couple more from the list to get through. I also go through a bunch of newspapers and magazines. What have you been reading?
“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” –Les Brown
“Go where you are celebrated – not tolerated. If they can’t see the real value of you, it’s time for a new start.” – Unknown
"Friends are medicine for a wounded heart and vitamins for a hopeful soul." - Steve Maraboli