Part V: The Reason

I am here because this is where my family was from, where my family is, and where so many of them will continue to be.

What's been interesting is that I came really, really expecting to connect with people, with certain relatives, to relive a summer from long ago that i remembered being full of people. And I have, though not necessarily with those I expected to. But I've also connected with the actual place more than I EVER expected, and that has been amazing. But still, family is the reason I have this bond with a place that I've spent tiny percentages of my life in. Despite the conflict, the resentment, the complicated twists and turns...in the end, they define us on so many levels.

So, I suppose this is a tribute of sorts to them...although, really, I want to share some of these old photographs I found, and make some (meaningful) generational connections. :)

This first one is a family favorite, taken in 1911 of my great grandmother (maternal grandfather's mother) and her family right before she was to be married at 18. She's the second from the right, and everyone says that my mom looks like her.


Now, my great grandparents...who endured 8 children, all of which lived to adulthood. They both lived past their 90th birthdays! Go longevity. :)

This one is so old and weathered, but beautiful. My grandfather (everyone in this entry is from my mom's side) was one of 8 siblings, and the young woman in these are his little sister, one of the two girls, and second to youngest.


The ages and time part (yes, Em...) always gets to me. Here she is about my age, and us together at my cousin's engagement banquet.


Now, this is Second Grandma (since she was the second girl) with her husband, and three kids. Those are my great grandparents. The little girl is Peggy, who's son is John (below left with me and Catherine). The boy in the middle is another uncle, and his wife, younger daughter Catherine, and son Brian are below right.

Catherine, John and I are all about the same age, so we have good parties. :)


My mom and grandma, and my grandma and I. Um, how is it possible I am in the mature-looking photograph of these two??


My grandparents, and their four children. My mom is the oldest, and we are staying at Uncle Alan's, who is on the far right with my grandfather. EVERYONE makes the same three comments about this photo: my grandpa is a good lookin' guy, my aunt AnAn is adorable, and my mom looks too serious and responsible for an 8 or 9 year old. :)


My grandma loves this one because you can see their chubby legs. :p So cute.


Now, the left is my Uncle Alan and his daughter Minnie, and the right is my Aunt AnAn.


And now we move on to the next generation...Ting isn't a cousin, but her father grew up with my mom and her siblings, they basically count him as another sibling--so she's like a cousin. The middle is cousins; the right is my cousin Angela, AnAn's daughter, and her fiance Byron


Now, for Angela and Byron's engagement, there was a huge family banquet, which literally translates to "happiness alcohol"--the type of dinner it is has a LOT of toasting, and rotating...just about everyone gets a chance to move from table to table and toast those people (we had nine tables, I think), and then BE toasted as well. I love this one on the right.

And finally...


Most everyone of our family who was there that night. It's pretty awesome to be in a room, and a HUGE one at that, and know that you're related to just about everyone in some way. I especially loved how much time was spent talking about who lost their baby fat (equally referring to those in their teens and those in their 40's and 50's...hehe), and which people's kids looked like them the most...it was a fun game to play. :)