Where I came from ...

I went to a reunion this past weekend with a lot of my mom's family that I have not seen a whole lot of in the past 20 or so years. I miss them and it was so good to just "be" with them. It was only a few hours... on a very warm day... at a park with all ages spread around. My mom died when I was 13... the anniversary was this weekend as well... 30 years ago. The picnic get together was by no means a way to honor that... it was just the weekend that worked out for most to attend. It has been a long time. I was introduced more than once at this picnic as "Beverly's daughter"... it has been a very long time since I have thought of myself as that. My husband's family gets together quite a bit... lots in fact. I have wondered sometimes at those gatherings what it would be like to have my mom around in this phase of my life... I wish my kids could experience how much fun she was and how much fun she liked to have.
We also went to Brian's 20 year high school reunion this weekend as well. As I watched the slideshow of long ago faces of people I didn't know a saying at the end of the slideshow struck me... "The older you get the more important is for you to stay connected with those who knew you when you were young"... I like that. Maybe that is one reason why I love my sisters and my brother and my extended family so much. They loved me then and they still love me now.

The photo is me and my 2 sisters (Heather & Pam) as well as one of my cousins (Lynda).

Laundry - I used to love it. Still do.

I love doing laundry! There is nothing like the smell of warm clothes and towels right out of the dryer ... oh and the EMPTY laundry basket. I have never had a "Laundry Day"... I just do it when I have a moment and usually it works out to a couple of loads every other day... sometimes more if I do towels and bedding. Maybe the reason I love doing laundry is the feeling of accomplishment when it is done... the orderly piles... delivering them throughout the house and seeing the filled shelves and drawers. It is the perfect thing for my insides when I feel like I haven't accomplished much in a day. I can always say... "I did a load of laundry!" When my 2nd child was born I recieved a wonderful gift as my "c section gift"... a BIG front loading washing machine. Wow!!!

Many times I have thought of the "old days" where the mom had to lean over a wash board in the stream... thank you God for washing machines and dryers... soap and dryer sheets... makes our jobs as moms much easier! The other reason I know I love doing the laundry... it is a way I can get that "Type A" personality a little pat on the back. Well done!