These past couple of weeks have brought so many great memories, times of comfort, and many smiles. Our journey began on the weekend before Halloween and continued through election day. To start off with, we went to the Berkshire Mountains and rented a condo that could take up to 8 people. Jeff and Amanda and their kids were able to join us for the weekend. The condo was at the base of a ski resort. Fall colors were dwindling, but the environment was so calming and peaceful. The weather was perfect and the scenery breathtaking. We were able to watch the sun setting over the mountains, the kids got to do a little trick or treating, and we enjoyed the outdoors and some of the amenities offered at the facility. It was definitely a very enjoyable few days

We had lots of time together, and also went off for a few hours on Saturday- they went and hiked upward on a mountain, and we opted to drive up a different mountain and walk once we were at the top. We knew a hike up a mountain was in the more youthful days of our lives, a time that has since past. Heck they would probably still be waiting for us. LOL

We love spending time with all of them, so this was super special. This weekend gave us time to carve out the day-to-day activities and responsibilities and let us just be with them, such a special family. It was a great beginning for the next week and a half. A time that was filled with reminders about how special family is. There is a history that is unique in each family, there are times of sorrow and joy, and through them all, I believe that family is the glue that holds life together.

We came home a couple days early from Massachusettes before heading to Michigan. We did some stuff around the house, and unpacked, to pack again. The next part of our journey was to head to Michigan for my brother Don’s 90th birthday weekend. We were very lucky with the weather on that journey too. We got to see some of our family from Michigan. We do try to get to Michigan a couple times a year, and this was a special time for sure.

My family is large, there initially are 9 children, 3 of whom my father had with his first wife. She passed away, and a few years later, he and my mother had 6 more children. So needless to say, there is quite an age span. My oldest brother is 31 years older than the youngest of my siblings. So to be able to spend time with some family members over the course of 1 1/2 weeks was great.

Don has always been very special to me. He has been a beacon in the night for me on many steps along my journey of life. It is so refreshing that his family has never lost the “family” part of being a family. Sunday dinners are shared with Don and Sally and their 3 adult children, and their spouses. Dave and Vicki’s children now live away from them, so it’s not easy to make Sunday dinners all the time. They gather weekly, they stay in touch with one another, and they all are unique in their own ways. Family dinners bring conversation and laughter, and what I really love is that they are a real family. The world seems filled with political and moral attacks that have torn relationships and family units apart. Families can be torn apart by so many factors, and yet this family stays together, silently they have their beliefs in the political arena, and in moral thoughts too, yet they respect that each is an individual and it need not be a discussion or an attack. I wish everywhere was like that.

On Saturday we were able to share time with not only the Michigan group, but also my sister Melanie and her better half Dan came from Liverpool, and Lynda ( one of our nieces) came in from Rhode Island. Plus our great niece Natalie and her brother Leighton were there too. It was great to see everyone. Lynda was able to get her dad Chuck (another of our brothers) on the phone and they did face time on Saturday. It was so touching to see them talk on the phone, face to face from so many miles away. Chuck is a few years younger than Don, he lives in Arizona, so they don’t see each other. It was really emotional to see their love travel through the screen of the phone. Chuck asks Don ” How did you get to be 90?” and Don laughing and saying “Hey you are almost 90 too!” As they talked, it was so neat how they sounded alike.

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On Sunday we got to spend another special family dinner time, and this time our niece Amy, her brother ( our nephew) Felix, and Amy’s husband Greg, shared the time with us. Amy and Felix are 2 of the 5 children my sister Karen had. We do not see them often, and it was nice to spend time with them. There were times when Amy laughed and it reminded me of when she was much younger. Her husband Greg loves her immensely, it is apparent all the time. Felix has a smile that is contagious, and it was a nice time spending some of Sunday with them

Each gathering was special, each gathering filled with laughter, discussions, and delicious food. Don was sung to twice, and even sang along “Happy Birthday to ME” as everyone sang “Happy birthday to you”

On our way home we stopped for the night in Niagara Falls. It was a perfect ending to a perfect couple of weeks. It was a cold night, but absolutely beautiful.

Journeys such as these are so fulfilling in so many ways. As I sat back and looked around the room, I had flashbacks of times gone by, times never ever able to repeat. So many moments have flown by as the clock of life clicks on.

It is always nice to get home, to regroup, to recharge before the next journey comes to reality.

I hope I never lose the ability to realize that each morning I awaken, well it is another blessing. And there is so much to be thankful for.

Until Later, Mrs Justa alias Cindy