Sometimes it seems I have to choose between blogging about life and actually living it. We’ve just returned home from our latest trip, one that started with a drive to the Comfort Inn at the Baltimore airport last Tuesday evening and culminated in a 16-hour drive up the Eastern Seaboard Sunday.
Early Wednesday morning, I set off by myself for two days in Jackson, Mississippi, where I did the sort of shadowy, mysterious professional work that is left purposefully vague on these pages.
I will tell you that I got a chance to see the beautiful Mississippi State House.
And the home of Eudora Welty.
Thursday evening I flew to Atlanta to meet my mom and sister, who were there setting up for my grandma’s 90th birthday bash that was to take place over the weekend. Robbi and the three kids drove from Chestertown to Atlanta and met me there on Friday.
Here is the birthday girl.
The entire family gathered, mom’s siblings, their kids, and the 14 (and counting) great-grandkids. The twin themes were food and babies.
As for food, we were treated to a low country boil, in this case, shrimp, sausage, potatoes, onions, carrots, and corn seasoned to perfection, boiled together in a big pot, and spread out on the tabletop for all to admire.
Also on the food front was baked applewood bacon.
As for babies, there were plenty to go around. August and Ardian are the two youngest among my mom’s grandkids.
Kato and Orin are the two oldest boys.
And let’s not forget Alden, who took a faceplant before skidding across the pavement at the Greenville Zoo (but is making a swift recovery, in case you’re wondering).
The festivities took place on the banks of beautiful Lake Lanier (site of various boating events during the ’96 Atlanta Olympics).
We swam.
We played games.
(Mom was the undisputed champion of hula.)
It was a chance for cousins to commune.
For my brother Alex to meet August.
And for me to spend some time with my amazing siblings (and the amazing lady that we all call mom).
We’re home again for a few days. On Thursday, Robbi and the kids are heading to Lake George and I am heading to bed to sleep for a week.
What a beautiful picture of your mom, sibs, and you, Matthew. A lucky crew!
Well hello Alex.
Don – he’s a special forces medic. Which means he will break your heart (with his bare hands) and then resuscitate you. Beware.
Also: Matthew already has a complex. But there’s nowhere in the bible that says you’re not allowed to covet your husband’s brother, is there?
A SPECIAL FORCES MEDIC????? Well hello soldier! I feel like you both have intentionally withheld this information from me. And yes, I will beware, but I will also behopeful.
As for the Bible, I think it’s only your neighbor’s wife that you can’t covet. So you’re okay. But hands off, he’s mine.