Reunion

Reunion brings perspectives

Family reunions are strange events in the American experience. A mixture of those with the same blood, but different lifestyles come together and what results in any bodies guess. One such gathering this weekend showed me new perspectives as I slowly progress towards one of those dreaded, benchmark birthdays in a few years.

I saw through three days of togetherness that even before one generation fades away others await to replace them. Each family group gets to enjoy the one waiting to take over their step on the ladder of progression.

My first and most influential realization came in looking at a cousin I met for the first time as she finds her way around her first year of life, next to my grandfather. There I could see the same face with more than 87 years between them.

I could see the same twinkle in young eyes my grandfather has carried for most of the last century. Even the hair line is similar with hair coming in on one somehow matching that of hair long gone on the other.

It was in this special moment that I saw the wisdom of the past and the hope of the future. I saw the absolute and complete innocence of less than three months on the great blue ball we all ride on through the universe.

She sleeps with the peaceful care about nothing attitude we can all envy. In her great grandfather I saw the knowledge gained on the roller coaster ride on that same ball.

In this hodgepodge of the Woerner bloodline came many other observations that can be applied to families across the American landscape. These views came from the large group of assorted individuals between the two bookends of infancy and senior citizenship.

In the middle of the group are the hopeful college students, so unwise about what lies ahead.

There are the teenagers who think they know it all only awaiting the train of the real world that awaits them at the end of the tunnel through which they now proudly trod.

Then there are the 30 some things wondering if they have found their place in the world and their older siblings satisfied that they have reached a satisfactory plateau. An even younger group of adults still wonders exactly where they belong or where they are going.

There are then the next generation of grandparents waiting reluctantly to move into the head role in the family. They enjoy their children as they are young and in a small way dread the day they will spread their wings and fly. They enjoy their parents as they lead the family.

This assortment of fine people give me hope for the future. The family name is safe long after my ticket expires on the ride of life. That is when those same college students, teens and kids take on the next step of their obligations.

This weekend was long expected with eager anticipations. One of those didn't involve an ambulance ride for one of the 23 people gathered, which was part of the gathering Saturday. For sure, it didn't turn out the way we all thought. That doesn't mean it was a failure. In fact it was quite the opposite. In what could have been a very bad experience came some very interesting memories. For me came a new way to look at those I encounter each day of my life and a new appreciation for the family I love.

Learn more about this author, Tom Woerner.
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