AN INVITATION
Here is the short form of this P-gram.
My bucket list has an entry that calls for me to see all of my friends and
family at least once more. It would be impossible for me at my age to
visit each of you individually. An invitation is always open for you to
come to Maui for a visit, but I know some folks aren’t interested in that big
ocean crossing, so I’m going to make it even easier.
I will be in Bar Harbor, Maine (BH) from
September 7 through 20, 2013 and I invite you to visit me there. I will
occupy Derby Lane Cottage for that period and will have a kind of an open house.
I wish that you would take this opportunity to drop in and view what 80 years
has done to me. Please consider a trip for some or all of this period.
And keep me apprised.
Why am I announcing this so early? For
those still working, there are vacations, house and animal sitters, and other
arrangements. And then, BH is a resort town, and accommodations tend to be
reserved well ahead of time. While September is towards the end of the
tourist season, you’d be advised to reserve soon.
If Pono is not enough to attract you, think of
Acadia National Park, lobster and other seafood, the big water, and fall colors.
Maybe these things are on your bucket list.
LONG FORM
I started thinking about my bucket list due to
2013-09-11. On that auspicious day I will have achieved the ripe old age
of 80 years. In 1952, my mother’s mother hit 80 and celebrated with all
nine of her children, all but one of her grandchildren, and some close friends.
Here she is with her nine kids.
Rubie, Marge, Carl, Mamie, Grandma, Beyda,
John, Edna, Viola, Myron
The last attempt at a reunion of relatives of
both my parents’ was in 1997. That group included two of my kids, my
brother-in-law with his and my sister’s children and one grandchild, my brother
and reps of his gang, a Sandin aunt and some Sandin cousins. Here is that
gang.
Now I’d like to see all of my descendents
under one roof and I thought I would work on a plan to come as close as possible
to that, similar to what Grandma had. Work and school interfere with
grands and greats, but my three sons have agreed to try to work it out.
(JR lives in BH and owns Derby Lane, so I’m pretty sure he will be there.)
I don’t have near as many direct descendents
as Grandma has, so it occurred to me that I could expand the goal by adding my
sister’s and my brother’s descendents. And while I’m at it, why don’t I
just invite ALL family? In fact why not include friends?
So, I have been in touch with my sister’s son
and daughter and my niece’s son and they have agreed to make it. This
invitation will go to part of my brother’s descendents and I hope they will
share it with others who do not have email. It will also go to all the
relatives and friends with whom I try to keep in touch and for whom I have email
addys.
Next step – I will send this Ponogram to
several family members who don’t have email but for whom I have snail mail
addresses.
However you receive this, please understand
that whatever the means of contact, my invitation is just as sincere and my
desire to see you is just as great! And do let me know.
MY THREE SONS
Judy and Kim - 1987
|
Courtney and JR - 2009 |
Jen and Stuart - 2009 |
These pics of my three sons are from some time
ago. You’ll just have to drop by to see what they look like these days.
Kim and Judy have a daughter and a son.
Kristy is married and has two sons 12 and 9. Kristy teaches and of course
the lads are in school so travel for them in September is not likely. Matt
is working long hours and his attendance is also unlikely.
JR and Courtney live in BH and own Derby Lane
so they will be around with their daughter Poppy who will be nearing 3.
Stuart and Jen travel constantly and almost
casually, so I’m pretty sure they will drop in on the way to or from some exotic
“work” site.
MY SISTER’S DESCENDENTS
|
Sandra and Paul - 1996 |
Glenn and Julie - 1998 |
Doug and Mary - 1997
Sandra is my niece and Glenn is my nephew.
Doug is Sandra and Paul’s son. All three couples are planning their trips
to BH.
Glenn has a girl and a boy by a previous
marriage. Hopefully this invitation will reach them, but both have
children in school who would likely limit their travel.
I have email contact with two of my brother’s
children and a snail-mail address for a third one and I’m hoping one or more of
them will decide to visit.
My address books include a number of cousins
on both sides who will receive this invitation and I hope some of them will also
respond positively.
AFTERWORD
During my recent trip to the Big Island, my
hosts had a huge bag of pistachios and I had several servings. In the
presence of others of course, I restrained myself. As a kid I recall
sharing very small bags and getting a dozen or so for each person. So I
added “pigging out on pistachios” to my bucket list. Last week I purchased
a 3-lb bag and paid no attention to the serving size. I ate a bunch and
didn’t stop until … I don’t know why I stopped. Boredom, thirst, lack of
enthusiasm? All I know is I hit some limit, was able to cross that item
off my bucket list, and the next day my left thumb around the nail was sore.
The reason for choosing the dates for this
invitational gathering is that they encompass 2013-09-11, my 80th
birthday. As the birthday boy, I hope to receive a certain amount of
respect and attention, but the only gift I want is your presence. If you
insist on handing me something, a disk with lots of pictures on it would be
great.
Also, I am old, but I’m not entirely stupid.
Even though my advanced years may afford me a certain role of prominence in the
group, I fully expect to be completely out-shined by my newest granddaughter
Poppy whenever she is around!
E komo mai! Come join us!
A clever family tree layout someone posted on
Fartbutt (or whatever that site is called)