As a child I loved the trips we made to visit family. Frequently we drove north through Calgary to Red Deer and Sylvan Lake to be with my Mom’s family, but we also went at least two times a year to Kelowna, where my Dad’s sister lived. Almost every holiday was shared, my childhood permeated with shared meals and people tumbled together and happy.
A perfect holiday for me therefore includes being with family. This road trip included visits with both my relatives and John’s. These past two days therefore were rich with reconnection, beginning with John’s family: Marion, gracious, kind, steady; the siblings, John, his brother Bill (& Bev his wife) and sister Maureen. We converged in Warman, from Langley, Winnipeg and North Battleford, but formed a small Archer hub for an afternoon. It was fabulous.
Since we’ve been staying with my brother and family in Warman, our moments have been stretched more leisurely over these days but savoured none the less. The added joy is to have the littles, my nephew’s children to pull us into adventures: Grantie, Avai says, there’s a mystery here, who jumped on the bed? and off we go to solve it. (spoiler: it was Avai).
And so we begin our journey home tomorrow, retracing our steps, finding new spots to stop and explore along the way. the holiday isn’t over, just this segment. Many thanks for taking us in and putting up with us — this adventure simply would not have been possible without this welcoming home.
Family
I’m the youngest
of three, the only girl.
Both parents gone;
we are the elders now,
recreating scenes and celebrations
with new faces, that mimic features
of old familiar ones missing –
her cheekbones, his brow, spunk,
kindness, power in large hands
with perfectly square palms –
that help us remember we belong.We plan and prepare meals,
© 2019 Laurel Archer
eat with everyone at the table
reminisce, do errands, venture out,
take pictures of everything
and add to the archives of generations,
so that those who gather after us
will also know they belong.