Family Ties

Just spent a wonderful weekend in Edina, MN at a family wedding celebration -- and it was so much fun. We flew in on Friday afternoon, checked into our hotel then proceeded to my brother and sister-in-law's home where the festivities were already beginning. My sister-in-law had already arrived from Albuquerque and "the cousins," which consist of a group in their mid-20's/early 30's were there with boyfriends. And the bride and groom were there as well. The setting was beyond perfect and the weather was fabulous. Having come from rainy world, the sunshine and hot temps were a real treat.

As we all sat poolside and watched the younger kids do flips off the diving board, we chatted and caught up, then had a cookout. Then we returned to the hotel and Hallie and I checked out the hotel bar. You know, because one should always be aware of their surroundings! A sangria or two later, we all eased our bodies into the heavenly beds of the Westin and had an excellent night's sleep.

On Saturday morning we returned to the resort (their house is that nice, and with the pool area, it really feels like a resort) and after a breakfast of bagels and coffee a group of us did a nice three mile walk around Lake Harriet. I have an aunt named Harriet, so I kept thinking of her during the walk!

Saturday afternoon brought in more people; family from both sides and it was fun to meet new people and see others we hadn't seen in a long time. The "official" party was on Saturday evening, but we'd really been in party mode since we arrived. We went back to the hotel and spiffed up a bit, then returned and enjoyed a wonderful catered dinner poolside (and watched the kids do flips off the diving board, which was a never-ending entertainment). It was a very good time that was enjoyed by everyone, I am sure.

Then on Sunday the entire group reassembled for a wonderful brunch, poolside. And the threatening rain had the good sense to hold off until we were all finished. Then we spent the rest of the day saying goodbye as people left one by one. A smaller group (of 11) had dinner at a great Italian restaurant last night, and then we said our last goodbyes to the bride and groom as they climbed into their car to begin their drive back to Boston.

And we went to bed because we had to be up at 5:00 a.m. to get to the airport. And we arrived with plenty of time, and it was perfect: Peter and Maddie's gate was right next to ours and they boarded at 6:30. We said goodbye to them and then we went over to our gate and stood for about five minutes, then they boarded us. We could look out the window and saw when their plane left. You can't get things to work out any better than that!

So Charlie, Hallie and I arrived in Chicago 15 minutes early (when you're in the flow, you flow!) and now we are hanging out in her apartment sweating. It is sooooooooooooo hot outside, super sunny and beautiful. But since we've been up since dawn, we're not feeling all that perky!

It was really a great weekend and even though we were all together 24/7 for three days, it all went very smoothly. I was so struck by the feel of generations, the cyclical aging process and the passage of time; and my sister-in-law Sue, whose son it was that had just been married, echoed those sentiments. She had put out picture albums and in her wedding photos my husband was the same age as Charlie is now; and her parents were so young (they were the oldest attendees of the party and her father is definitely a little rickety walking around). In the photo albums he looks exactly like her brother. Her mother is absolutely beautiful in the photo albums, and beautiful now. A true example of aging gracefully.

My in-laws were not able to attend because my father-in-law has had recent surgery, and I kept thinking that they had missed a very important event. Peter has five siblings (including himself) and they were all present. The last time that happened was about 12 years ago for their parents 50th anniversary. Unless someone else plans on getting married soon; I don't see it happening again for awhile. And it really drove home to me the belief that if you can attend a wedding (or funeral for that matter), then you should. Because life is very short and it's truly a milestone to be together, if only for a short time. It affords yet another notch in the stick of time; you know, the last time we saw you was at Zach and Bobbi's wedding party.

We need such events to use to measure time!

But what I enjoyed the most, I think, is to hear all sorts of old stories and meet people who could tell you new stories about people you know from a different perspective. It was fun to see everyone interact and to watch the true evolution of a stranger to a family become a family member.

Priceless.