A Quick Trip to My Roots

Its been a year since I made my way to Kansas along with A to spend my great-grandmother’s last moments with her. It’s been a month now since we went back to celebrate her life on her birthday weekend with a first ever family reunion. The one thing she asked for before she left us.

We loaded up the car, drove overnight and arrived  in the early morning at my dad’s house. It’s like a little oasis there. Off the beaten path, quiet and green. Our first day was slow and easy, which allowed for a nap which was appreciated with the lack of sleep.

The rest of the weekend was all about preparing for Saturday and soaking in family time. A saw her Papa six months ago, so she gobbles up the time she does get to have with him. She road on the tractor, rode a tricycle for the first time and surprisingly mastered it within thirty minutes and enjoyed herself. That evening we dyed eggs with A and had Papa join in. We wanted to make sure that even though we were out of town that she still got to do all the things we usually would for the holiday.

Saturday was filled with family. Family near and far. The family that my memaw was the spearhead of. She would have been ninety that day and the weather was nearly perfect, which was the only day that was the case, ironically. We surrounded ourselves with food, conversation and a few rounds of target practice. Cousins played with one another and had a small Easter egg hunt thanks to Great Aunt Patsy and Uncle Bob. The day came and went before we knew it.

Sunday came along and although my dad had to work, we had a quiet morning – just our little family. We got around, let A open her Easter basket and have an Easter egg hunt after her nap. During her nap we put all the eggs together and the timing was just right because my dad made it home just in time for her outside hunt so he didn’t miss out on all of the festivities.

 I’ll never forget that late morning, after her basket was opened we went upstairs playing. Then A came running in the room I was in and said, “AWWWW!!!!!! Look Mama! Looooooook!” with grandma’s photo tightly grasped in her hands, as she beamed. Then wanted her photo taken holding it. Oh My Heart.