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| Richard, Bard, Grandpa, KT, Dad and I - Christmas 2010 |
I would like to dedicate this post to my beloved Grandpa Joe Smith who died yesterday at the age of 98 and a half. He had such an amazing life and I am sure my Grandma Win and the rest of our family who has already passed is welcoming him with open arms.
There is nothing more important to me than family and friends. I am so glad I went to Virginia over the holidays to visit my Grandpa, Aunt Barb, and cousins Richard and Kyle. Our time is so precious and I felt/ feel that it was so necessary to reconnect with them. I hadn't seen my dad's family in four years or so and yet it seemed like no time had passed at all. We stepped right back into the Smith family traditions: card games in front of a roaring fire, praying before all meals, fresh strawberries + vanilla ice cream + angel food cake (Grandma's old specialty), lighting sparklers for fourth of July, and most importantly reconnecting with family and the nature all around us.
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| The main cabin at the lake |
My most consistent memories from my dad's family take place at hand lake, a small lake in Minnesota. Our family has owned a cabin (now 3) there for the past 50 years or so. At the lake I learned how to dig for worms and other bait, fish, play barnyard, capsize canoes, observe beavers build their dams and most importantly: try to protect myself from the flocks of mosquitoes that would be my companions on those weeks by the lake. My dad's family is definitely rooted to the earth and more country mouse than city mouse. Looking back, I appreciate so much the refuge that this family and that place gave me from the craziness of the world.
While I was in Virginia, Richard was talking about how he wants to get a boat up at the lake so he could teach his future kids how to water ski and wake board. As we tossed around ideas and old memories I felt so comforted by the presence of the Smith family retreat. It is a place of escape and rediscovery and I am so proud that that place, and these people, are, and always will be, apart of me.
My Grandma and Grandpa raised three amazing children: my dad, my Aunt Barb, and my Uncle Fred, and I know that they, and the rest of the family will carry Grandpa Joe (and Grandma Win) in their hearts forever. Love to all,
xxx
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| Grandpa's birthday '08 (at the lake) |
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| Playing blitz; grandpa called it "the bean game" |
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| Christmas decorations |
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| Grandpa and the cat resting their eyes |
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| More bean game |
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| Sunset at the lake |
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| Our fishing dock |
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| Dad, me, Grandpa, Barb and Richard; after church lunch |
While I was in Virginia, Richard was talking about how he wants to get a boat up at the lake so he could teach his future kids how to water ski and wake board. As we tossed around ideas and old memories I felt so comforted by the presence of the Smith family retreat. It is a place of escape and rediscovery and I am so proud that that place, and these people, are, and always will be, apart of me. 
xoxo
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