We are family.
Our whole family doesn't gets together very often. In fact, this was the first time for our whole family, since Dan just married in last year and Luke is only 9 months old. So this was actually the first time we were all together as a family. Then another 30 or so extended family members joined us for Mom's 90th birthday party. What a wonderful weekend. There was Uncle Frank and Aunt Sarah who just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and Dan and Deborah preparing to celebrate their first. Ethan and Alice enchanted everyone and Alex and Julia were wonderful. Jimbo kept the rest of the adult cousins laughed long into the night around a campfire. We told old stories we've all heard before--like Uncle Frank's first encounter with Jim and me at 3 years old when our Dad was trying to carry us off to bed, one under each arm. And I heard some stories I hadn't heard before, like the fact that my Grandfather's first-born son was premature and died at only two years old because of a bad heart; or that one of my great-uncle's sons committed suicide. Two cousins we haven't seen in years reconnected with the clan and we met Jacob's beautiful girlfriend. David and Kerri shared the great good news of another Harnish on the way. They are due in January, so once again I'll turn into one of those obnoxious grandparents bragging about a new grandbaby.
By all measures we are not a particularly unusual family. We've had our share of divorces and deaths, ups and downs, but we've also been blessed with simple joy and bonds of love. Even though we are literally scattered from coast to coast, we've tried to stay in touch and make the effort to get together once in awhile. This morning we are all headed back to our own lives and our own worlds in California, Wyoming, South Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Michigan, but we will stay connected and cherish the memories of our weekend together. We will pray for Sam in his upcoming chemotherapy and give thanks for the elders. We will remember the ones who have died and honor their memory, hoping our lives can do them credit.
This Monday Memo doesn't have a profound theological message or biblical insight--just a word of thanks for a good family and especially, gratitude for Mom and her many years.
Life is good. We are blessed.
Jack
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