2024
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 42
Prompt – Family Gathering
This past summer while visiting in Saskatoon, my sister, Bonnie invited us to a barbecue at their home. She said she would invite her kids so they could catch up with their Aunt Wendy and Uncle Bill. It had been sometime since we have been together with their kids. Sounded like a great idea.
Bonnie and Doug have four children.
Murray (b.1981), Matthew (b.1983), Lynn (b.1987) and Michael
(b.1989). Her three sons live in Saskatoon however her daughter, Lynn
lives in New Zealand with her husband and two children. I knew that
Lynn and her family would not be at the barbecue. It would have been so much fun to add another 4 family members to this gathering. Sadly we missed you Lynn, Steve and kids.
August 2024 - Cuthbertson Family Barbecue |
Lt to Rt Around the table: Doug and Bonnie Cuthbertson, Marie-Louise M.(Michael's significant other), Erin Lindsay C. and Matthew C., Julian C (Michael's son) ., Michael C., Vanessa L and Murray C., Wendy H.
I was surprised that Bonnie had two tables set up in the dining room for a sit-down supper. This brought back all the memories of our Peters family gatherings in mom and dad's small home. And by small I mean 900 square feet, 3 bedroom and 1 bathroom. It was usually at Christmastime. 7 kids and their spouses, 5 or so grandchildren depending on the year, mom, dad, grandmother and sometimes her border. So many conversations at the same time. It was happy chaos. I look back at those gatherings as a happy time.
At the barbecue there was 11 of us sitting together, passing the food around the table. It was listening to conversations. Bonnie and Doug's sons and their significant others were full on adults. Our conversations were enlightening, fascinating and it was such a wonderful gathering with them all together. I was catching up on their lives. And I guess vice versa for them. Although goodness only knows what young adults would find interesting in their 70 year old aunt and uncle. Bill was so happy that he had a few of them interested in seeing the Tesla. He even took them for a short ride. It made his day.
December 25, 2023 - The Cuthbertson Family |
Back Row: Erin Lindsay C, Emily M., Matthew C., Vanessa L, Murray C., Steve M., Doug C., Michael C., Marie-Louise M.,
Front Row: Bonnie C., Jonathan (Jonty) M., Julian C., Lynn M.
Please forgive me if I have misspelled any names.
Family gatherings come in many sizes and shapes, some happy and some not so happy. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays and funerals are some of the family gatherings I think back on. It is during these times that we reunite with our old selves and reconcile them with our present self. And pray that we can have one more gathering in the near future.
Wendy