Reunion 2022

 It’s been three years since we gathered. There are always some missing. This time three. My sister, her daughter and one of my second brother’s sons. Still, nineteen made it! A record! The reunions are rare. The pandemic made it more so. The brief lull last fall was all it took for me to try to organize it. My family means everything to me. We are spread from California to Chili to Alabama to Tennessee to South Carolina to Arizona. Herding cats. But willing cats. My oldest brother chooses not to travel at all, so we traveled to him. His daughter hosted our get-togethers to avoid too many public outings.

I can’t remember seeing so many beloved faces at one time. It was soul-filling happiness. Ages ranged from 2 ¾ to 78 years. There was individual time, group time, hikes, breakfasts, dinners, swimming, games, shopping, dancing, a birthday party, laughter and just a bit of drama.

For as long as I am able, I will try to implement these events. I wouldn’t trade the time for anything. I keep asking myself, “How did I get so lucky?” Then I spit over both shoulders, as my friend Ellen taught me, to ward off any lurking mischievous spirits that want to steal our joy.

 All of these:

From these:

And Before That:

And:

BOTH/AND: A LIFE IN MANY WORLDS- APRIL 2022 BOOK SELECTION

In her memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, Huma Abedin recounts her childhood through the present. Born in America, Abedin is the daughter of Indian and Pakistani parents. At age two, she moved with her family to Saudi Arabia. There, as a Muslim, she and her siblings were raised and educated by very progressive parents. For college she attended George Washington University and close to graduation applied for and was accepted as an intern working for Hillary Clinton during the Clinton administration. When the administration changed, Abedin remained in numerous and varied capacities working for the former first lady; through HRC’s two bids for the White House as well as her tenure as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama.

A marriage to the now infamous Anthony Weiner produced one son. Abedin recounts in great detail her years with Hilary Clinton as well as the devastation of her unfortunate marriage. This is an informative and fascinating read regarding the machinations of political life as seen behind the scenes. She also examines the way scrutiny in the public eye can alter your life irrevocably.

If you are interested in one account of political life as well as how the author navigated a shattering break-up, it is a worthwhile read.