I did have a few minutes to jot down some notes at the airport on July 9, and since my thoughts turned to family at that time as they are doing now, I will reproduce them here for your enjoyment or edification--or both!
As I waited at the airport in Milwaukee, a family of five walked past me. I noted that the Dad appeared tired and was somewhat sloppily dressed in comparison with the Mom who was wearing stylish pedal-pushers. They had three young boys, aged about 10, 7, and 5. The oldest had the looks of his father. The middle one the blond hair and flashy style of his mom. The youngest was a nice mix of the two of them, which is often the case as you go down the line.
As soon as they sat down, Dad and boys got up again, I'm assuming to visit the rest room. They got on the moving walkway and again I noted the Dad's stooped shoulders and worn out look. Suddenly he was transformed! The four of them had turned around on the walkway and, walking against the flow, appeared to be walking in place.
"Hey, Mom," the youngest shouted. "Look at us!" I had to smile as the Dad, years dropping away from his frame, joined his sons in the shenanigans. Now, laughing and happy, the four of them went off leaving both Mom and me chuckling to ourselves.
Families are amazing, I thought. I'm heading home after spending about a month helping my Mom move from her home in Florida to Wisconsin of all places! Mom's two sisters live in Wisconsin, and, while she is still able (hale and hearty at 81) she will "play" with them rather than "burden" me.
Being with the three Schug sisters, aged 84, 81, and 77 was quite an experience for me. About the only thing that I had on them were my organizational skills--and I think that was more a character trait than a result of my younger age. Mom had about 150 boxes that she had prepared and packed in Florida. I had flown down and helped with the last 20 or so about a week before the move.Then we were in Wisconsin, and with me hauling and opening, the three sisters diligently unpacked box after box, unwrapping memories while Mom provided us with a running commentary, expounding upon the history of each knickknack and piece of china. Smoothing out and folding the newspapers that had wrapped each item, we gradually finished recreating Mom's personal cozy home.
Stopping now and then for lunch, or to go out to purchase a few essentials, gave me the opportunity to stand back and watch these sisters interact. At the furniture store they teased and flirted with the young salesman. Mom settled for a conservative red patterned couch, but all agreed that the pillows should be a wildly contrasting wavy pattern that could be used for "hypnotizing" each other in order to get the upper hand--especially during their highly competitive Scrabble games.
Of course they had their "senior" moments--like the time Aunt Mary left to go home and came back about ten minutes later after not finding her car in the empty parking lot. She had forgotten that I had picked her up--but then again, so had I! Aunt Frances would get turned around coming out of Mom's apartment and always head towards the dead end. Topping that, I turned off the GPS in the car about a block from the apartment, sure that I knew the rest of the way, only to spend the next ten minutes going around the block twice after missing the turn off into the parking lot both times.
Strong, independent women--this is my inheritance! What a wonderful chance to see them become young again in their own eyes, as they helped Mom set up her home again. Right now I'm watching my daughter check her wedding registry for the umpteenth time. All the gifts that she and her husband-to-be picked out are practical and necessary for creating their home. She's so excited to find just the right thing to make it their own, and to watch as family and friends help out in buying these things for them.
Families are amazing, and, as I begin to settle down a bit into my writing, I can feel that writing that class paper about Wisdom as a Way of Life, that is due the day after the wedding, will have to begin and end with the foundation of family. Family is the place unconditional love is learned and practiced. And love is the beginning and end of Wisdom. I'll let you know how it goes!
