The Ties that Bind

 The Ties That Bind

Hi Family,
I love to tell family stories. About the time Mary Sharon and Jason were teens I was coming to a time in my life that I realized how much I needed those stories and told them any any chance I had. They began to tease me by mixing them up. They would have Uncle Floyd and his black angus cattle in a story about Opal Houghton taking us "little girls" Easter dress shopping. I'd fuss, "You kids are going to appreciate them when you get to be my age" which could bring on more teasing about age.
One day after an extended family gathering for some holiday, Mark, mused, "You know, you women have so much fun together and sometimes I'd rather hang out with you in the kitchen than watch football with the guys. Why don't you go on a retreat together for a whole weeken. stories flew around so fast and we laughed so much ...well, you know.
Just this summer, Eileen and Faith went one afternoon to enjoy Marilyn who had come to visit. Sitting around Beverly's table they found themselves telling stories about our dad that the younger women had never heard. They gasped, dropped their jaws, laughed and cried. The stories were theirs.
On the way to Bev's, Matt's wife Ruth confessed to Faith that she had always thought her own family to be pretty boring. "Your family never runs out of stories to tell and I have nothing to say. But today, when it's time to tell stories, I finally have one I can tell, too. so let me know when it's time." So sure enough, after food was put on Eileen was reminded of something that happened at dad's funeral and started to tell it when Faith burst in and said that before they got started on dad that Ruth had a story...her very first sharing of a really good family story of her own. Well, everyone was so happy that they put their elbows on the table in unison, bugged their beautiful eyes, and said together, "Tell all". The story was great. It was so good that they decided she won....before they even got to Eileen's story...at least for the day. And Ruth also won because she learned the secret that all families have great stories. They just need telling.
So this blog is dedicated to the simple and amazing stories of our family. And a special thank you to David Bowen and Melissa Price Elenbass for this latest inspiration. Sharon

Tomorrow: Head Lice:Pediculus Humanus Capitus