Visitation Day

Michele, Stephanie, Justin, Carrie, Rachel and I left around 9 this morning, picked up Kathy and then Aunt Charlene and headed up to Aunt Marilyn’s for lunch.  She and Uncle Berwin are quite settled in their new little house that Jeff built for them.  The view is spectacular.  The pond across the road (built by Uncles dad) is the greatest.  There is just something  calming about water for me. 

Note to the Lord:  It doesn’t have to be a mansion, Lord.  No, even a mobile home will do.  Just put a lake in the front and the ocean in the back and I’ll be good to go.  Thank you.  PS: Don’t forget the porches.

There’s a bull moose that is often spotted coming out for a drink.  The Canadian geese and their little babies think it’s pretty nice, too.  No wonder they are enjoying the views so much.

We enjoyed a nice lunch of Italian sandwiches and a delicious strawberry rhubarb coffee cake that Michele made.  Then we had the idea for hand and foot.  What WERE we thinking?  Aunt Charlene, Kathy and I went up against Aunt Marilyn, Stephanie and Michele and got spanked badly.   Playing three on a team was a good time, though.  We’ve never tried that before.

We left there and made a quick stop to see Marie.  She looks so good in her new glasses and likes being able to see again.  Now, she’s broken her watch and needs a new one.  She was surprised and pleased to see Michele and Kathy and the kids.  Her old friend, Theresa visited her last week.  I would have loved to see her.  I’m sure they had a great time.  They love each other.

We drove Aunt Charlene home and decided to make a stop at Uncle Jr’s and Aunt Henny’s.  They were just finishing up the supper that Michael had made for them and were thrilled to see us.  They love to have company.  Aunt Henny doesn’t seem that changed since I last saw her.  Her mind is still good – her hearing, too.  But, Uncle Jr. seems a lot more uncomfortable.  Reconstructive surgery that he had years ago has deteriorated making walking very difficult.  You’d never know it from the look of his place.  It’s immaculate.  He still drives and still mows a mean lawn.  They just celebrated their 60^th anniversary on Sunday.

Before I leave Skowhegan and tell you about our trip to Canaan, I want to tell you about my Grampie’s barn.  They tore it down a few weeks ago.  They just don’t make barns like that one any more.  I still remember it well.  We played for so many hours in there growing up.   There were always so many cousins to play with when we got to Nana and Grampie’s.  If only those barn boards could talk.  We’d have many memories to share.  Now it’s only the farmhouse that stands on that hill and it looks so bare without the barn to go with it.

Our last stop was to visit Bernard and Irene.   Bernard was frail tonight, and his mind not quite there.  It didn’t stop him from getting out the candy and snacks.  Always the perfect host.  Irene went through some of Grammie’s pictures with us and helped us identify people we didn’t know including our great-great grandfather, which would be Irene’s great grandfather. 

Bernard’s blackberries are in full bloom and deer were grazing in his back yard.  Those of you who love these two, please keep them in your prayers.  Bernard is tormented by things he thinks he sees sometimes.  It’s hard on Irene.  Their future is uncertain as they face the unknowns of Parkinson’s disease. 

Grammie’s nephew (Dad’s cousin), Leland Burrill died today.  It’s been a fun day with the rels and revisiting the past with them.  It’s also good to be home.   I am realizing once again the great advantage of a big family.  What a blessing it has been to me all my life.  Thank you, Lord.

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