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Tag: family reunion

Georgia On My Mind

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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