New Traditions

Some friends of mine are in transition and decided to start a new tradition for Christmas Eve.  Their grown children may or may not be around; the extended family they usually spend Christmas Eve with have changed.  They had a small party for friends and neighbors, and I was invited.  In years past, I might have declined. I do not do well in social situations.  My house is not well kept these days, so I cannot reciprocate.  But I went anyway.  I had planned to stay an hour. I stayed 3. The hosts are people I enjoy.  There were people I knew, and people I had met before.  It was a nice outing.

Thank you for this blessing.

Apples to Apples

I went to a "get together" tonight (really last night, November 6, 2014).  We played a game called "Apples to Apples" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_to_Apples.  This was fun!  We were amongst co-workers who do not always socialize together, but treat each other as friends.  What a pleasant experience.

Family Reunion, Just Nice

So, I traveled to New England to attend the family reunion for the Crochier side of our family, which is my mother's side.  My mother and all of her siblings are deceased, so the matriarch is the wife of my mother's oldest brother.  The reunion was at her house, and organized by one of her sons, and my cousin, who is the oldest of the Crochier cousins.  That cousin and her now deceased husband have made partying a science, and have wonderful set ups for partying, usually at her house, but not always. 

Because my elderly aunt was concerned about mobility, the party was at her house.  My cousin and her children loaded up and brought the party to my aunt's house.

My aunt's children and some grandchildren were present, of course, and several of my cousins from another uncle, with some of their children. My oldest cousin, her children, and some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were present.

All my siblings were present.  Some of my nieces were present. Some of the children of my nieces were present.  The partner of one of my nieces was present. I live in Texas and have family in Phoenix.  Most of the rest are spread out in New England, with one niece living in the Upper Midwest. It seems we do not get together enough.  This was a good opportunity to do just that.

I arrived in New England Wednesday night. It was rainy until Saturday morning. The skies cleared and it was a beautiful day.

It was just a nice reunion.  Nothing special.  A chance to get together, visit, catch up.  No problems. No personality clashes. Just being nice with nice people.

As it should be. 

I am grateful to my cousins and aunt who decided it was time for a Crochier family reunion.  The last one we had was in August 1962, when Meme and Pepe Crochier celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary!  It was time!