Saturday, September 03, 2011

Lessons from the family picnic

Three years ago, right after my grandmother passed away, we got the idea of hosting a backyard family get together, non funeral or wake in nature. Let's face it, with schedules as bee busy as they are, it's the only time we see each other.

All where invited. Many attended. All had a great time. Even my Uncle Charles, who always seemed to strike when the iron was hot. I remember talking with him about our Wolf stove, (the boat anchor), and why I don't like it. He was impressed to see it in our house. I was wishing I had bought something else. When he left, all smiles, he thanked us for the invite. Two months later he was dead; a heart attack. Shocking.

Now, this summer, we were asked to host another gathering. No problem. Once again all were invited. Many attended. All had a great time. (We rented a giant water slide for the kiddie in all of us.) Then two weeks ago I find out a cousin has lung and brain cancer.

Is there a lesson here? Is it: STOP having family barbecues? No, that's not it. The lesson is get together even more often, for you do not know when your number will be called. And I would hate for the last time everyone gets to say how great you look is at your wake.

Don't be busy as a bee all the time.

3 comments:

jeff noel said...

Patty, poignant ending. Thank you for the important reminder. Peace and blessings immeasurable to you and your Family, especially your cousin.

Tammy H. said...

Patty so true. We often cannot make time but we always manage to find the time when it comes to a funeral or wake.
Enjoy each other -- a great message!

Are you up here or headed up? LMK and maybe we can have a cup of tea.

Patty Hebert said...

Tammy - we are here! What time is tea? I can come to you this time, if more convenient. Or the other way if you want to sit by the pond. Either way.