It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
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We’ve been in Georgia for the past week, for the annual reunion of my husband’s family. He is one of 13 children, with only four still living, and this leads to quite the crowd. There are spouses, children, grandchildren, and even a few great grandchildren for the oldest siblings. The reunion was on Saturday, but we made a week of it, visiting with different family members and friends for longer meet ups. It is a wonderful tradition to start our summer.
Driving back today, I looked through photos and reflected on conversations…it led to a bit of a poem. I need to work on this still, but here’s my slice of life…
Georgia On My Mind the June reunion takes us back over many miles and memories a steady rain as we drive seems to echo the mind’s machinations whispering yet insisting, saturating all the cooking from the heart butter peas, crowder peas, green beans cornbread, mac-n-cheese okra and dressing (made just like Mimi always did) pies, pound cake, chocolate delight so many family favorites be sure to have a bite of everything thirty-five years of showing up has worn down the suspicion of me, the one raised ‘east coast, Catholic,’ yet it lingers askance like framing on old weathered barns maybe I’m one of those little stone houses staying put strong and steady in their midst yet on the periphery I love it here dear ones open up to me sharing confidences the buttered biscuit on the side taking all the juices in now I’m remembering all the kudzu creating funny monsters against the Georgian blue or is it simply keeping secrets saying, no, not now, no light on this keep quiet about that let me think on this maybe I’ll share more later simply remember the chortle of the littles as they ran and laughed together family is precious
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Maureen,
Your poem echoes some of my thoughts about family: living in the fringe at reunions, still suspicions. I’m always conflicted about these get-togethers. I don’t fit in well w/ much of my family. Glad you had fun and got in some good longer visits.
Maureen, I’m so glad you shared this slice! It brings us to the real, as we say in Georgia, sure ‘nuff stuff of life – family, food, conversation. The buttered biscuit soaking it all in is such a metaphor for a southern family reunion! I love this – and the photos to help reflect is something that I do, too, lest I forget a detail! Safe travels!
Your story brings to mind family reunions of my mom’s 10 siblings and the whole county of my husband’s relatives in Georgia. I was the “Yankee” in my husband’s Southern family. Ahh, the Southern cuisine and secrets.. and always little ones running around.
Wonderful moments together and you expressed it beautifully.