Dancing With Our Ancestors

With Memorial Day this past weekend, it reminds me to take a moment and reflect on fun memories of those that have passed on. There are so many memories of family members, grandparents, parents and others who have passed.

Mom [Bop's Mom]:

Beep and I were cleaning the garage this past weekend, and I came across my wood carving patterns, tools and box. Years ago I had made a carved Santa Claus for my sister, and she felt that the overlaying stain was orange. She gave it back to me and said she didn't want an orange looking Santa, but "thanks for the nice present anyhow!" I fixed it for her. The mishap was using burnt umber versus burnt sienna as an after stain and wash. When I gave it back to her, I wrote on the box..."Here you go Princess, everything is all fixed to your royal specifications." I never noticed that my Mother wrote on that box as well, and proceeded to give me a minor tongue lashing in pen, which ended in "Good Grief Already." I noticed her hand written commentary for the first time in 12+ years. Made us both laugh. I guess I've been a sarcastic one since I came out of the womb.

Dad [Beep's Dad]:

I never had a chance to meet this fine individual in this life. He passed away when Beep was 4 or 5. From what I understand, he was an amazing man, who devoted a ton of his personal and family time to the furthering of the gospel on the east coast as a young bishop and stake president. He was a doctor as well, and he and my mother-in-law have raised four fantastic children. It is an extreme privilege to be a part of their family, and to have two wonderful families. I look forward to meeting this other Dad of mine someday. We both have sarcasm, woodcarving and baldness in common! :)

Granny [Mom's Mom]:

I vividly remember her "carving a notch" in the barrel of her 22 shotgun for every animal that she killed on her property. My cousins pet rabbits included. Now, one would think that Granny lived and passed away over a hundred years ago on the wild frontier, but in fact she's only been gone for 5 years. Animals being shot on her property in the city was part of...well...Granny! Someday when I see Granny again, she'll want me to dance the "Virgina Reel" with her in heaven. I'll gladly oblige. The Grandpa I never met, since he died before any of his children married, was a mean fiddle player from what I understand. I can picture the square dancing commotion now and various extended family eye rolling.

Grandma [Dad's Mom]:

Grandma had the most amazing metal cups and bowls that she used outside on her AstroTurf covered patio. I've seen exact retro replicas make their way back through Urban Outfitters. Grandma was very contemporary for her time. She had ginormous "fruit lights" that hung around the red stained fence, complete with oranges, apples, grapes, pineapple, limes and lemons. I wanted those so bad a little kid in my bedroom. I was 8 when Grandma died, but I have a very distinct memory of getting glasses upon glasses of cancer causing "Tab" to drink. This is where my Dad gets the Diet Cola addiction from, and hence the next generation is completely addicted to some form of cola beverage as well. Funny! My Mother hated Diet Cola drinks.

It's hard to not be grateful for our parents, grandparents and others who have preceded us in death. They set a precedence for faith, family, having intensely fun times and enjoying life each and every day it is granted to you. Family histories of cancer, stroke, heart disease and heart attacks are unfortunate, but we all have an understanding that there is so much more to life than just "this life" as we know it.