Dear IF readers,

This road trip of family and friends and extended family has been almost an entire 4 seasons of family life - we have been waiting for little Ryder to be born and although late, he arrived 4 days ago. We saw him on his second day into the world. This little boy is my Jackson’s friend Ben’s new baby brother, and new son to my dear friend Beth. We have also in the last few days embraced a dear little girl that lost her mother this year and faces her sixth grade year without her momma. This is Brody’s dear girlfriend from his New York City photo album that he shows everyone in his new school, saying “that is my girlfriend clapping for me, I was throwing a ball.” Her mother was a dear friend that I miss and am shocked not to be able to phone or email anymore. Death is always sad but young death feels tragic.

I just tucked the boys in from dancing at a wedding. Dear little michael, son of Joanne is now grown up and marrying his Stacy love. And his brother Brian, who I have known since he was 11, gave the most eloquent toast looking handsome in a tuxedo. And as my boys galloped around the dance floor, I know it will be just a moment before it is their turn to ride off in a chariot to their honeymoon. Life is always moving along, and this road trip was a grand tour of it all. I could not have invented this life learning for my boys in weeks of classroom notes, and am so thrilled to have this time with them. We have talked so much about all of these things we are witnessing on our 10 day road trip. Wonderful.

And now dear Crystal is with us in the car going back down South for a week long visit with us. And the boys finally talking a mile a minute, asking questions and analyzing everything, are asking every question possible to someone in a wheelchair, “Can you walk?” “Can you stand?” “Were you in a wheelchair in your mama’s belly?” “Why is your spine broken?” “Can anyone fix it?” “Will my spine break?” And on and on. It is something to watch your children watch the world. It is something indeed.

I honestly am elated with this trip. I could not have scripted it better for a book I would write the world to tell them of my life of family and extended family and friends. And today as I sat listening to the vows of Michael and Stacy and the talk of the priest marrying them, my mind raced with thoughts.

I will celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary this September. Marriage and family is the most humbling spiritual journey of a lifetime. It is never easy or self-satisfying but it is always fulfilling and growing, evolving. My best friend from college was sitting next to me today. I recalled the day Amy got married, and she looked at me and said, “Should I do this, is it worth it?”

I was having a spot of trouble in my marriage at that time we had hit a wall trying to have children and all that brought out in our relationship. And I said, “Yes, yes and yes again.” “I would do it all over again.” “You have to jump in with both feet, really run off the cliff and commit to the fall, because you would rather that than look over the edge wondering holding nothing at all.”

On Monday we will pull in our driveway, put the road cases away till next time, till the next great adventure. But this was a grand grand time, I will remember it always, good reading, Cat

Trackback URI | Comments RSS