With open displays of love and laughter,
and affection still in the fore,
a family friend admired how it all seemed
and felt so genuine, so at ease after all these years.
“This is how families should be.”, she observed.
But she couldn’t see the crimes and misdemeanors
of the past, and the forgiveness behind them.
Later, we cut the September celebration cake
and shared it with all who were present.
There, on our festive plates, it was obvious to all
the tenacity of love still had a place at our table.
Comments
My mother...
passed away before her ninety-seventh birthday, and she was a part of the glue that held our extended family together. My sisters always threw a party for her, and we celebrated another year of the matriarch. While she was alive, most, [not all] came to help usher in another year of the family's togetherness. Shortly before she died, the family started falling apart, even for that celebration. Now, one of my sisters is going to continue to celebrate her life as though she were still here, until she would have reached one hundred. I wonder how many of the different factions will come? I long for, [as you put it] the tenacity of love to show up on our festive plates. Thank you for this poignant look at family, and the love that can be had. Very nicely done. ~ Geez.
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Thanks Geez! Like you, we
Thanks Geez! Like you, we lost some of our family "glue" when our mother passed in '18. We lost some traditions as well, but we have managed to keep our family together despite varying degrees of differences. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this piece - always appreciated.
Best