Other Stories

Family reunion

Every family has a story. Welcome to ours.

Twenty adults, nine kids and five dogs spent a long weekend in one big house on the lake. Sounds like the makings of a sitcom.

We have reunions with relatives from my mother’s side of the family every couple of years. It helps us know what’s going on in each other’s lives, and reminds me again why I don’t have children.

This year most of us managed to be free the second weekend of July to come together for a few days of fun, food and family at my middle sister’s place in Lakeport, Michigan, just north of Port Huron.

We were blessed once again with the presence of our matriarch, Aunt Nores, who turned 95 on June 30 and braved a six-hour car ride from Pittsburgh with her patient and loving daughter.

Nores is my mother’s youngest and only surviving sister. Beating the odds, she has outlasted them all, despite enjoying cigarettes, a stiff drink and gambling. Perhaps she’s still here because of those things. Her doctor won’t comment, but off the record admits he wouldn’t change a thing.

“This old gray mare ain’t what she used to be,” Nores will say when asked how she’s doing. Or, better still, “Not bad for someone who’s a hundred years old!”

There’s usually profanity in there somewhere, but this being a family blog, I’ll leave it out. Plus, it would likely cost me another quarter from my great-nieces and nephews who have bionic ears when it comes to curse words. They appear out of nowhere like ninjas.

From Thursday to Sunday, we played together on the shores of Lake Huron, riding wave runners, paddle boards and kayaks.

The weather cooperated, allowing those of us who should know better to willingly go tubing on a ghastly-looking thing dubbed “The Molecule” behind a machine driven by a psychopath. The point is to hold on for dear life and bounce up and down screaming bloody murder until you fall off. (Someone did, but it wasn’t me.)

There was lots of good conversation and poker and more than a few margaritas. But with all of that good stuff, I remember one thing the most.

On Saturday morning, from across the living room, I saw my aunt coming down from her upstairs bedroom. The same room my parents used to sleep in during their visits.

Her unmistakable silhouette stopped me in my tracks. With her snow-white hair, slight stoop and deliberate walk, she could have been my mother.

Mom at the lake in summer 2008.

Wearing that familiar black Calloway golf visor, heck, she was my mother.

She’s been gone 10 years now, yet in my mind, it was Mom, coming down after everyone else had been up for hours, now ready for her first cup of coffee.

A visor was always my mom’s go-to accessory. Bright lights bothered her sensitive eyes, deteriorating despite multiple surgeries, including two corneal transplants.

“I’ll be on the back porch having a cigarette,” my aunt said.

“You want some coffee?” I asked, smiling as I held open the screen door.

Retired print journalist and blogger.❤️🐾

11 Comments

  • Kim Dye

    It sounds like a wonderful time. I’m glad you were able to all get together and spend time together!

  • Laura Eagin

    Oh, the warm fuzzies! When you talked about seeing your mom walking down the stairs … I feel like I was there. Come to think of it – I’m inviting myself next year.

    • Connie Rizzotti

      So what happened the rest of the weekend? You’re leaving me hanging here. LOL. Glad you had a good time!

  • Corky O’Reilly

    We are indeed blessed with a beautiful and loving family sharing four generations of stories and creating memories that we’ll relive the next time we’re together. It doesn’t get any better.

  • Rachelle Zajciw

    To be blessed with four generations of memories, experiences, love, and laughter is truly a weekend to be treasured! How proud and happy, those who could not physically be there, are to look down and see the wonderful family they have.

  • Joanne Skupin

    We did the exact reunion on July 12-13-14 on Lake Michigan. I do not have the gift of creative writings and humor as you do. My ramblings are all in my memories. Nuf said.

  • Maureen Dunphy

    Lovely, Jen. You paint your stories so well with words, but I’ve been noticing you also have a good eye for the stories you capture in photographs, too. Thanks for sharing your family time — and your aunt — with friends!