Sentimental Journey
A card arrived in the mail today. Aunt Sandra has created another original card, printed it at home and tucked it into the envelope with little treasures. On the cover of the card, a tiny cartoon girl wears jeans, her hands in her pockets, standing beneath the American flag as fireworks explode overhead. Fourth of July. My name is printed amongst the firebursts. And inside the card, expecting to see Sandra's handwriting and signature, instead I see lots and lots of messages and signatures. Family members gathered at the Bohannon reunion write thoughtful and witty messages about missing me. I'm overwhelmed at the sight of so many messages. From (seemingly) nowhere, the tears come. Strange, being filled with so much emotion, good emotion, with very little thought.
I'm in my office, listening to top hits of the 40's and the song playing is "Sentimental Journey." Sounds like Doris Day. Gonna' take a sentimental journey, sentimental journey home.
Sandra has slipped in a handwritten note and included a few photos taken by Uncle Richard on his digital camera and printed at home. The first is my Mom, sitting in a rocker on the porch of her cabin, reading a book. Mama, unaware she's being photographed, is captured in a sweet, private moment. We've sat together on many mountain mornings like this one, drinking coffee and reading. In other photos, each branch of the family gathers in front of the sign that says, "Black Bear Lodge, Welcome Bohannon Family Reunion." This makes me smile and cry, to see them posing in front of the sign. Especially Great Aunt Jewel, who poses like a model showing off the lettering "Bohannon."
Also in the envelope is a card from Sonua, my beloved cousin. She writes in her extraordinarily handsome script about the funnier moments during the reunion and I can see and hear the action as she describes it. Hear Carol yell out one his famous jokes across the room so all can hear. See Jimmie try to explain the word "mosque" so everyone is rolling on the floor in amused confusion during a game of Catchphrase. They really enjoyed the new lodge and will return next year. Not as many people showed up this year and everyone fears the reunions will one day stop. That would be a true shame.
After pulling everything out of the envelope, I turn over the photo of Mama. Sandra has written on the back, "Your mama's porch was below ours and every morning we would see her out there reading."
Lucky them.
I'm in my office, listening to top hits of the 40's and the song playing is "Sentimental Journey." Sounds like Doris Day. Gonna' take a sentimental journey, sentimental journey home.
Sandra has slipped in a handwritten note and included a few photos taken by Uncle Richard on his digital camera and printed at home. The first is my Mom, sitting in a rocker on the porch of her cabin, reading a book. Mama, unaware she's being photographed, is captured in a sweet, private moment. We've sat together on many mountain mornings like this one, drinking coffee and reading. In other photos, each branch of the family gathers in front of the sign that says, "Black Bear Lodge, Welcome Bohannon Family Reunion." This makes me smile and cry, to see them posing in front of the sign. Especially Great Aunt Jewel, who poses like a model showing off the lettering "Bohannon."
Also in the envelope is a card from Sonua, my beloved cousin. She writes in her extraordinarily handsome script about the funnier moments during the reunion and I can see and hear the action as she describes it. Hear Carol yell out one his famous jokes across the room so all can hear. See Jimmie try to explain the word "mosque" so everyone is rolling on the floor in amused confusion during a game of Catchphrase. They really enjoyed the new lodge and will return next year. Not as many people showed up this year and everyone fears the reunions will one day stop. That would be a true shame.
After pulling everything out of the envelope, I turn over the photo of Mama. Sandra has written on the back, "Your mama's porch was below ours and every morning we would see her out there reading."
Lucky them.
posted by Cindi at 11:31 AM
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