Visiting the relatives

From Friday to Sunday, I was in Syracuse visiting my family on my father’s side.  I had an amazing time.  I have to admit, though…that many colors were used to paint this visit.  Let me explain.

Not too long ago, I made a comment on my buddy Chill Pastor’s blog.  I wrote about how the dark time in our lives help to make the portrait of our life have more depth.  That is how I feel about my trip to Syracuse this weekend.

Many bright colors were painted.  It was so refreshing to be there, so see my family.  My aunt and uncle really inspired me, gave me something for which to strive.  I’ve never seen my Aunt Linda so happy.  In Spanish the word linda means pretty…and her name fits her.  She is radiant.  I remember some of the darker times that she experienced.  Seeing her now puts everything into perspective.  They are so welcoming.  We scheduled a weekend in October for me to go back to visit.  We’re going to visit the wineries of upstate NY.  And I love me some wine 🙂

The dark colors of my visit were painted when I went to my Oma’s house for the last time.  I have so many memories of that house…visiting my cousin as a baby upstairs; Thanksgiving dinners in the dining room; taking a bath in the clawfoot tub, pretending that it was a water slide; sliding down the steep back stairs on my butt because I was afraid to walk down; walking my slinky down those stairs.  I could go on and on.  I held it together seeing the house mostly empty.  I completely lost it when I walked out back and saw the cherry tree.  I remember when my Opa planted that tree…he was so proud of the sour cherries it produced.  I cried when I saw that it was dead.  I tried to regain my composure, so I walked back out front.  And I saw the pine tree..the one that Opa planted so many Christmases ago.

I can’t spend my life crying over what was. 

For now, I look forward to the brilliant autumnal colors.  It is time to make new memories.