Well boys, it happened. After an unwelcome and lengthy separation due to Covid, we finally got the whole family together for the 4th of July. Nemacolin’s Arden Estate was the perfect harbor for our gathering: eighteen of us, spanning four generations, who survived a global pandemic, two Covid hospitalizations and one very alarming stroke. Now fully vaccinated and under one roof, celebrating a paragon of love (Grandma and Pow Pow), two additional anniversaries, a quarter-century birthday and one miraculous recovery was very much in order!
Over the course of five days we created a host of memories: bowling, swimming, fireworks and dominoes. But what stands out most is the campfire on our last night. A perfect summer evening for us to eat leftovers for dinner and then hang by the fire and roast s’mores. All over the world firelight gatherings have been the custom of our ancestors as an intimate space to dance, sing, and tell stories; crackling flames evoking feelings both calm and dramatic. As Polly Wiessner describes, “There’s just something about fire in the middle of the darkness that bonds, mellows and also excites people.” Looking back, we could not have come up with a more fitting way to close out our time together, amidst the cacophony of cicadas and tapestry of fireflies.
[ click on each photo to enlarge ]
Seeing Pow Pow hold hands with his bride of sixty-five years, as children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren laughed and played ‘round the fire was such a joy. With so many challenges faced this past year, none of us took this time together for granted. There was this palpable feeling of euphoria amongst us all, including you two. As you aptly pointed out Cash, “If Pow Pow didn’t recover from his stroke, we wouldn’t even be here together at Nemacolin.” Upon hearing this, Pow Pow replied, “Well Cash, you’re probably right about that.”
We departed the next morning, hearts filled with appreciation and gratitude. Hooray for life and hooray for love! And as Daddy always tells you boys: “Family is not an important thing, it is everything. It’s what matters most in the end.”
I love you Cash and Grey.
Always and forever, Mom
“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” ~ K. Whitten