A Family Tradition

The Fourth of July is certainly a holiday full of traditions. Red, White & Blue decorations, parades, picnics and, of course fireworks. Ever since I was 9 years old, the tradition in my extended family has been to hold a reunion. This week will be the 44^th time we will gather as a family. Every year, the same, on July 4^th. Except when the 4^th is on a Sunday, then we meet on the 3^rd. I look forward to this reunion, as do all of us in our family. When I was growing up, I assumed all extended families were as close as mine. Didn’t everyone see their cousins and uncles regularly? Didn’t they all get along? I discovered this was not the case and, over time realized just how blessed we all are. Before the days of email, Facebook and Twitter, we knew what was going on in each other’s’ lives. Not being nosey, but rather being a close family. We spent time at our cousins’ houses, especially in the summer. We went places together.

Family Reunion about 1973

Perhaps one of the reasons we were so close was that my grandparents knew each other before my mother and father married. In fact, my father and his brother married my mother and her sister. So, I have a set of double cousins. At our reunion each year, both sets of my grandparents were there and that seemed totally natural to me. The grandparents have been gone now since the early 1980s. My parents too, mom leaving us in 1980 and dad passing six years ago. A few more have left us, an uncle, cousins and a cousin’s wife. Still, the reunion goes on. There has never been any discussion about continuing. We just do because we really like to get together annually. Several years ago we started a Christmas gathering as well. Recently, we began a monthly breakfast to celebrate birthdays.

Dad taking some of the kids on a boat ride about 1974

Two years ago, the reunion moved from my aunt’s place in the country to my brother’s house, also in the country. The reunion has now been passed on to my generation. All the planning and preparation is now in our hands. Every aunt and uncle still attends. Most cousins when their schedule permits. It is our tradition, but it is more than that. It is a time when we gather and give thanks for our family, our country and our many blessings. While the reunion always has that empty spot with mom and dad gone, it is not as large as it would be if we did not have such a great family to share the day with. So, as we gather tomorrow to eat, laugh and share our lives, we will remember those who have gone on as well as those who persevered 238 years ago to create a country where we can gather together freely.