FINALLY!



   






Why do I write this stuff ?  Better yet, why do I share it?
Other people would never admit on paper to these feelings or voice their opinion. But, here I am doing it - - - why am I even thinking this way when ever I hardly have a following, my kids don't read it, my family either. So basically I am writing it for myself and to share my feelings with my great grandchildren, my great, great grandchildren. They will either think I am an old coot, or a wacko Italian lady. But hopefully they will realize how very important my family is to me and feel the love I have for all of them. 


     I came upon a very interesting article today. It was in the USA Weekend insert of the Sunday paper. The article hit home with me because it proved that I am not asking for the impossible.  For years I have suggested to do this, but there is always a problem or reason why it could not happen.
    Now, I'm not making light of the fact that  everyone is busy in this fast pace world of ours, and it is hard to get 5 families together at one time, but after reading : Kids. Parents. Grandparents. I see that it can work out ! If everyone really wants it to happen, then it can.
     O Happy Day!, What a wonderful feeling to know other people feel like me. That I am not a wacko, crazy mother, mother-in-law, friend or what ever else people have thought of me.
    This is what I have hoped for, and still hope for. What I would love for our family to do, and by reading this article today, I see that other families work at making it happen.  
    Here is what the article said that made me so jubilant:
More and more families want to travel together, key word here is "WANT TO."
    It went on to say, "and not just with dad, mom and the kids. Retirees and working Baby Boomers want to gather the group, bringing along adult children and grandchildren"  Why?
" Because these special times together create powerful bonds that money can't buy. "
    Halleluiah! The guilt that has left my shoulders is immense. All these years I was told that most families do not want to. I, even after hearing this, said I don't care if other families don't, I would like our family to. It went in one ear and out the other.
       Though in  the early years there were good vacations, times when the grand parents, the parents and two siblings plus a fiancé' went, but not all of the siblings.
       There was the trip to New Hampshire for a week that  I remember. The laughter was abundant looking for "Elk" we never found. How many hours it took us to get out of Pennsylvania was hysterical to us. We wished the others were there to enjoy it with us too.
      There are other moments that stand out in memory but I won't bore you with the details, the fact is - that it happened with a mixed age group and everyone had fun.
       A year ago two families went with us for an extended weekend to the lake. It was lovely even though I could not get around very good, and went to bed earlier than anyone else. I was probably a bump on the log to them, but I enjoyed and hope they enjoyed being able to enjoy nature with extended family.
      I have to say that my real dream did happen years ago, we were all together for one week. The grandkids were so little that they probably don't remember one bit of it.
      It was the happiest of times. Having all the grandchildren playing together,  what I remember the most is the laughter, playing Frisbee on the beach, flying kites or trying to fly them. Relaxed, carefree times. But, that was a long time ago, at least 9 years ago.
      Those were the years that I was able to enjoy doing the things everyone else did, those were the times I wanted everyone to be together so we could all enjoy doing. Hike, bike ride, go far out in the ocean, take boat rides, do fun stuff.
    I know I can't have all that I want. I know that I'm blessed to have my family close by, and I am very thankful. But does that mean I can't spend a week of quality time with them, making memories with the grandchildren, getting to know them on a day to day bases, them getting to know their grandparents?   Having breakfast together, time to talk without having to rush here or there?
   I never went on a vacation with  my grandparents, but I stayed with them for a week, and with my one grandmother a year because my mother was seriously ill. I got to know them and they me, and we had fun together and grew closer.
   There were a few camping weekends my husband and I went on with two families. That's how they celebrated their dad's birthday and he loved it, but that stopped years ago too, when no one went the extra mile to continue to make it work.
     Is it playing favorites to say that one family will always take the time for us, will go away with us?  They try to work with the others to get them to go to?  I don't think its playing favorites, I think it shows that one family cares enough to work on making it happen.
      I am aware that there are other families that don't care to go with their kids on vacation, or that the kids don't want to go on vacation with their parents, That it is not important for them to be together, or maybe the kids parent's have died and there is no opportunity for them to go together.
       If they are happy with that, fine. But just because they are,  does not mean everyone is.
         Maybe it is more important to me these last seven years because of my health, maybe I'm trying to make lasting memories,
maybe I want to share more of my time with those I love in any way I can, even though they have their own lives. 
   
If a telephone call can soothe the soul, can you imagine what a week together with family would do?

Will I publish this? Should I publish this? That is the question