Louisville

Holding It All Together - Louisville - by Amy McCollom

I had never been to Louisville, Kentucky until this weekend. And after spending 3 days on a trip I'll never forget, I couldn't wait to get back and tell you all about it. It wasn't just any ole trip to any ole city for any ole reason. It was a coming together of a family for the sole purpose of celebrating the life of someone dear to us.

It was John’s aunt Georgia's 85th birthday. The party had been in the planning stage since late November. Many preparations had been made, and real invitations sent out, not just simple hand written ones bought at the dime store. These invitations were printed on cream card stock, in a fancy type-set. I could tell shortly after I opened the envelope that this was no small deal.

I was so happy when my husband said we could go! And his cousin Shelley, Aunt Georgia's daughter, invited us to stay at their home. We arrived there on Friday afternoon, following computer directions, I'm always the navigator. We pulled up in front of the house and felt a little out of our element. It wasn't the small ranch-style house we were used to. No bikes in the yard, not a bush out of place. It was even up on a hill. I swallowed hard and warned the kids not to touch anything.

Shelley and David's home was beautiful! From the natural stone foyer, to the real wood floor and soaring ceilings in the huge living room, to the bold red dining room complete with chandelier, it was just like looking in the pages of a magazine. On every shelf, around every corner, the story of the lives of the people who lived there unfolded as if I was reading their biography.

In the far corner of the living room stood 2 tall pillars, each holding up an exotic looking stone statue at least 2 feet high. The floor to ceiling white fireplace flanked on both sides with matching shelves also showcased trinkets and treasures from obvious travels. Shells, and hand-made jewelry, and pictures, and stone eggs, and delicate paintings. As I browsed the displays I felt quite small, having never been out of the country, and just glad to get to go to Kentucky. But the richness of the surroundings enveloped me, like the arms of the welcoming relatives, even though they weren't "mine," I felt a part of all of this.

We were so thankful to be able to stay with Shelley and David, it had made it all possible for us to make the trip. Hotels are not much of an option if you have more than 5 people in your party. Shelley was such a giving person, not only to us, but to the many other people she had welcomed into her home and life over the years, and the many things she did day to day, like taking care of her mom, Aunt Georgia, working full-time, and helping out those less fortunate. I was amazed at her strength, and her grace.

Aunt Georgia had been so good about sending my kids birthday cards with dollar bills in them for years. As she aged, the cards started to slow in coming, but I knew Aunt Georgia was declining. She was always so nice to me at John's family's reunions. She always made her way to me and asked about each of the children, and about me. And now there she was in front of me, her hair as white as the snow, her body thin and crooked. Clean and crisp and dressed in red, fingernails shiny and everything, she was being well-taken care of.

We talked as she sat in her big blue soft chair. She looked out the window and commented about the snow on the patio table, how it resembled a birthday cake, how it had been slowly sliding in the days past. She smiled and picked up her crossword puzzle book, offering to let me do one. Then she repeated her comments about the snow on the patio. And then she repeated other things she had just said to me. And soon I felt like I was in the "Ground Hog Day" movie where Bill Murray had to re-live the same day over and over again. It was odd, funny, sad, disturbing, endearing, wonderful, and alarming. Soon I was over-come with emotions and had to leave the room. My husband John smiled, and patted my hand in agreement, but I think I saw that his eyes were filling with wetness.

More and more relatives arrived, like Steven from San Francisco, Kevin from New York, David from Houston, Jim and Wilma from Dallas, Jean and Joel from Missouri, and many others. There must have been over 60 people wandering around the house. Aunt Georgia was loved by many people. John got to see cousins he hadn't seen in decades, and talk with them in depth. His family was fascinating. I had so much fun and felt I had a whole new set of friends. I am so blessed to be part of this family. They never once made me feel like an outsider.

Saturday was the day of the party. The cake was beautiful, the decorations perfect, the food absolutely delicious. The ladies all worked like a team in the kitchen, you would have thought that they ran their own catering company as well as they clicked. I enjoyed eating things unusual for me, like pickled green beans, dip of the gods, shrimp dip, and home-made chocolates. It was all fabulous. There was so much food! Even fresh fruit-kabobs.

We stayed in a room that was just as unusual and wonderful. Part of the attic had been turned into a bunk room, complete with nooks and cubby holes made especially for sleeping. A little girl had been staying in the room, so the walls were decorated with stars, and hearts, and butterfly strands of lights. Oh, and a Marines poster. We had plenty of room, and our kids were in childhood heaven. There were heaps of stuffed animals, video games too many to count, a TV and best of all, playmates for the weekend. We didn't see the kids very much at all except when they were hungry or wanted to put on a play for us adults, which was sweet and reminded me of when I was a kid.

The whole weekend was a reminder to me that we must hold onto those things that are precious to us: our families, our memories, our relationships. All too soon these things can be taken from us. But while it is yet day, while we still remember, while we still have hugs to give and receive and can do both, while we can talk to the people who mean the most to us....let's live like we appreciate the chance. Now, don’t you wish you could have been there?