It's All Relative

Reflections October 21, 2012:

Today I had the honor to officiate the wedding ceremony for my distant cousin Jaret and his beautiful bride Jessica.  In Maine, a Notary Puplic is allowed to perform marriages. I have done several so far mostly for friends and family.  I do have to say that this one touched me far more than most.  It was a beautiful setting in a large field.  The sky was alive with cumulus clouds both dark and light.  These clouds floated across the sky making the most beautiful light show with the spectacular fall colors. After the ceremony the bride’s nieces and nephews played with toy airplanes in the field.  

 

Waiting for the bride to arrive

It brought me back to the days when we would all gather after a day of haying at my Aunt Mildred’s farm and have a cookout.  I remember the large trees that shaded the front yard, the high bush blueberries down the long driveway, the old railroad car transformed into a couple of horse stalls and the fields. All of us cousins would be running around playing hide & seek, red rover, and the older kids would always play their favorite game, pick on the little kids. Just kidding, I don’t remember that happening much there.  Some of my favorite memories of family came from that farm.  The house seemed a thousand years old back then.  It had creaky wood floors that if you dropped a ball it would roll away.  

After the ceremony

Beautiful Carrot Cake (was darn good too)

I remember one night the “old folks” were telling stories about the house and some of the “odd things” that happened.  Yes ghost stories.  And wouldn't you know, I was staying the night that night.  I may not be close to all of my relatives and there are a few (OK one) that I would like to never ever see again, but for the most part I enjoy when we get together.  I don’t know about you but I find that cousins get along much better than siblings. We are related but don’t have to live the same house.  As I moved along through the years, I didn't really stay in touch with many of my cousins for various reasons.  But now, through Facebook and oddly enough, words with friends, I am able to keep in close touch with the long lost cousins.  And today I got to see some of those cousins and meet a few more.

 

Grandmother, Father, & Princess three generations of cousins

I couldn't resist this one

See what I mean?