Sunday, March 4, 2007

Family



Michael, Peggy, Mona, David, Patty, Suzie,Julie, Dale and Anne


Recently 2 of my uncles passed away within weeks. As we gathered to pray together and mourn their passing I thought about the importance of family. Some of us hadn't seen each other since our last family reunion, but everyone knew we would gather. It never really changes.

My Mom and Dad went first,then Uncle Al and Aunt Madeline. This year was rough, losing both Uncle Frank and Uncle Bill. They are part of our memories and our history. They were strong family men, good husbands, fathers and grandfathers. Uncle Frank was my Godfather. I don't ever remember him without a big smile and a hug. Uncle Bill came right out and told me after my father had passed away, that he was available for "fill in" any time I needed it. He was often there for me and I will miss him very much.

We all sat and remembered the old days when we gathered at our grandparents house or their cottage. We have the same memories of holiday dinners or sweeping the sand out of the cottage on Sunday nights before we headed home, watching my Dad and Aunt Madeline do the Jitterbug, Uncle Frank and his boat and Uncle Bill fixing and building something and everything. I remember my last evening with Aunt Madeline and all our late night phone conversations. I thought she was the Albert family version of June Cleaver.

We looked at old pictures of our parents and grandparents that were assembled at the church. Where had the years gone?

There were 17 of us. Somehow as we grew older, we may have stayed close to our special cousins, but those shared memories draw us all together. We continue to get to know each other as adults and they are all amazing people, good parents, successful and they are all believers in family.

We now discuss our grandchildren. I am still remembering Suzie and I scrapping behind Nana's couch or "the big kids", Michael, Anne and Peggy locking us out so they didn't have to bother with us younger ones. I laugh when they still call me Little Mona.

We must have carried on those family values. My five children are so close, even when they get mad at each other, they are miserable. They need that family unit. We have fun together. We care about each other.

We have raised children who have married good people, become good parents and given us beautiful grandchildren. I have to believe this is what life is about and we learn it from our parents and grandparents. Too bad we don't "get it" until we are older and I can't say Thank You to Nana and Pop. They started it all.

We Will Rock!



It was a fantastic moment as they began to play my favorite song.....Queen's version of "We will, We will Rock.....and then as it slowed down into the verse of "We are the Champions" I was singing along loudly.


Eaton Rapids boys were slowly walking with the American flag and formed facing their opponents, Lakewood, for the National Anthem.


Eaton Rapids absolutely slammed Lakewood in a near shut out and were high on victory. The coach tried to calm the excited wrestlers but Karen and I made the mistake of going upstairs to talk to Andy, where we found those big wrestlers running around, whooping it up.....some of them in their underwear. The coach was yelling, boys were wild and Security was threatening to throw them all out. We quickly left and went to dinner with other parents.
I was exhausted and ready for bed, but morning came all too early. Our coaches did not know that they had closed all the fast food places that used to be at Kellogg arena and the kids were hungry. Subway across the street had worked for dinner, but breakfast was a problem. Joe to the rescue! He loaded up the van, numerous times, running the boys to McDonalds. Karen and I stayed behind to have a quiet breakfast before heading back for the finals.
Unfortunately, Lowell wrestlers won and Eaton Rapids can claim that they made it to State Finals, but did not return with the title. As Andy put it "I was just happy to be there. and next year we can take it all the way"
Great attitude.