Family Reunion

Family Reunion

Chicory and Queen Anne's lace
grow side by side by summer's road.
Puffy cumulus clouds decorate
bright, mid-day skies.

Chubby, untanned legs pump,
sparkling eyes invite Grandpa
to lift encircling arms
to play so big! games.

Rise and flow and swirl of day:
wading pool, walking shorts, circle
talk elicits advice, shared
pain dissolves in mirth.

Voices unite, lift in song, bless the meal.
Fragile, blue-veined hands tremble, passing
air-light angel food cake
on delicate blue willow plates.

~Carol Bindel

Written-- and a version published-- maybe 15 years ago. But the experience on which the poem is based is from '67, '68, '69, when Mother hostessed the family reunion, when babies still sat on Pop's lap, those late years of Pop's life.

How Pop and Mom loved kids. How they sought to circle us with blessings. How they both quietly experienced and held their failures as well as their successes. How Mom made angel food cake her specialty. How she treasured her blue willow, and shared it to accent special times. How delicate and fragile she had become, even then. How delicate and fragile we all are.

Sunday just past was the last family reunion to be hosted by one of my generation. A thread of continuity spins through. We are an amazing chorus when we sing together. We create truly a fine, harmonized, a capella rendering of the Doxology:

"Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen."

I wish I had a recording, but perhaps that would ruin the actual time of singing.

I have been so very ill. The steps to recovery so far feel arduous, the road a rocky one.