Fathers Day with Family

We all decided to sleep in a little for Fathers Day. The heat has been extreme down here, and tomorrow is a long day of travel. After a very restful sleep we made our way to Grandmas to spend the day. Why is it that when you are laughing and livin' la vida loca time goes by far too rapidly, but when you’re still and quiet, time seems to go in reverse? I managed to herd everyone into the same room to take a couple of pictures of everyone but that's about as much craziness as everyone could handle.

Back: Dad, Aunt Olive, Uncle Ricky, Cousin Patrick, Aunt Viviene, Aunt Rose

Front: Mike, Diane, Aunt Cherry, Mom, Grandma

Grandma is still complaining about her sore back from that fall almost two weeks ago. She refuses to do her daily exercises and wouldn't go outside at all this week. When she sets her mind to something, it will not be changed. When I think about her life, I can begin to understand where she gets her strength from. She and her husband emigrated to Jamaica when she was quite young. She barely remembers coming by boat to the US and then a train that seemed to last forever, before one more boat ride to Jamaica. As the mother of nine she was kept very busy, and when her husband died she was unable to care for her youngest son Ricky. At that time mom and dad had just been married, so they raised him for the next few years before they moved on to Toronto. There is such history in this family, I just wish I knew more. I'm trying hard to discreetly take notes when listening to them talk of their lives.

After lunch, Mike, Diane and I headed outside in the heat so she could climb the tree and run around. Dad and Patrick joined us and we sat in the shade for quite a while and talked about school and the differences in daily life here and at home. After what seemed like an eternity, we said our goodbyes and headed over to Fuddruckers one more time to enjoy their amazing Buffalo burgers. Tonight is pre packing for travel tomorrow. And yes I intend to pack our dirty laundry on top again, just in case TSA decides to check my luggage.