esrosedotblog

REUNION

The biggest thing happening this weekend is not really about me.

John's cousin, who lives in Phoenix, came to see him. They last saw each other over 50 years ago.

It is amazing to watch them. Time dissolved from the first seconds. The jabber has gone on since her arrival. It is a closed universe. You had to be there.

The initial moments were a revelation to me as well. She is a first cousin on the mom side; a huge family. She 'looks' and acts so much like John's mother Jeanne; it is astounding.

I had some pre-visit paranoia. I asked John how he knew this was his cousin and not some impostor. (Yes, the thought crossed my mind. That is how twisted I am). But the first several minutes resolved that one. I didn't even have to ask to see her ID.

They are deep into it which is fine with me. I am not good at 'visiting'; a southern art form. I am cooking dinner and making sure that they remember to get breakfast and lunch and, otherwise, staying out of the way.

I can pick up a little though. A lot of the yakking is about family history; the ins and outs and who did what when and how.There is a lot to discuss. Southern Gothic. I know a lot of it from past visits by and with other cousins.

I admire his ability to fit it in. I would not want it myself. But it is good for him and he is good at it.

I am not one to dredge the past. I come from a family who lived all its dramas out loud; vividly and publicly. I don't know which is best; the silent, repressed thing or the get it out now as loud as you can approach

I left the home town when I was 18 and never went back except to visit my parents. I have had no contact with my extended family for fifty years except at my parents' funerals with a few people for a few minutes.

I stayed close to one cousin who was my 'lifeline' to the rest of them. But she was sort of an outsider too so we didn't get into particulars. Now, she is gone.

I suppose, talking like this, that it is time for someone to show up from my family. Jesus.

I hope not.

If it happens, I will just let John handle them.

Gotta go. It is time for me to start fixing dinner.

They are out now touring Palm Springs and will be back soon. I want to have some pots and pans to bang around.