Living this side of the country, with all my family on the other side,all spread out, it is very difficult for us to get together.
I haven't seen my mom in about 3 years. She's in Idaho. I haven't seen some of my sisters or brothers for at least that long, maybe longer. There are 8 siblings all together, and we are scattered.
Well, yesterday, I was informed by my sister's post on her Face Book, that there is a family reunion scheduled over Mother's Day weekend. Lo and behold...since it IS Mother's Day Weekend....I am not scheduled to be anywhere else. I was planning on being home.
I thought surely, at this short notice that tickets had to be pretty pricey, and I could simply check the prices, verify that they were outrageous, and justify that I really couldn't afford to go and that would get me off the hook, right?
Well..for $385 round trip...I am going from Greensboro to Boise on May 7th and returning on the 11th. I'm going. Family is worth it. Mending some fences and strengthening some ties is worth it. Seeing my mom and appreciating her for the wonderful woman she is is worth it. Seeing my brothers and sisters and spending time with them and their families is worth it.
It's going to be nuts. I come home from Florida on the 3rd, and leave a few days later...I get home on the 11th, and leave a few days later to go back to Georgia..this was supposed to be my week "off"..but I'm filling it with more travel, but some how....it's worth it.
This picture is a view I pass every day on my way too and from the gym. It has greened up SO MUCH..it's just beautiful driving past here. I took some pics of flowering trees and bushes in the area, and I will post them next.
As far as quilting goes...I'm working on the Jared Takes a Wife replacement...*LOL* FUNNY! Maybe that should be renamed "Jared takes ANOTHER wife!!" and I'm going to be bringing the pieces/parts of that with me on my travels....tomorrow night through saturday night I'm at the Crowne Plaza in Paramus, NJ! Whhaoooo!! Featherweight machine a piecing away...eating Chinese take out in the middle of a giant king sized bed and watching lifetime movie network.. :cD
And grrrr...I want this quilt done and off the guilt list, so I can get back to piecing more pineapples!
So, Jared is a bigamist? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear about the reunion, all of that for $385 is a steal! Good for you, Bonnie!
Life is too short....glad you are going. Ty and I are going for a visit in June.
ReplyDeleteFamily is so worth it. Glad you are doing it.
ReplyDeleteBonnie,
ReplyDelete$385 for airline tickets, mending fences and family fellowship-priceless.
Also love the visual, Featherweight and piecing, Chinese food, King Size Bed and Lifetime TV.
Have Fun!
Jealous you are going to Boise, but happy you are mending the fence. And I think you ticket is a fabulous deal, I can't get that from here. I hope all goes well for you and that minds and hearts are open and receptive!
ReplyDeletehugs
Glad to hear of your reunion plans. I am also flying into Boise, Idaho in May. I will arrive on May 1st and leave on May 12th. I am visiting a dear friend (she lives in Kuna), attending a retreat that she is putting on (May 4-7)and attending the Home Machine Quilters Show in Salt Lake City (may 8&9). Funny how close we will be. LOL
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing the right thing Bonnie - nothing can replace a mother. Hope you have a wonderful mother's day.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right. When it comes right down to it, family is what is important. I am glad you are going too!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of Jared takes "another" wife .... good one.
ReplyDeleteHope your family reunion goes well .... it's one of those "can't live with them, can't live without them".
Good deal on the plane ticket. I live here in Idaho and useually anything in or out of Boise is expensive. Wonderful you get to see your family.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will find the trip to be a blessing!
ReplyDeleteAs for the quilt, how about calling it "Jared's Second Wife"? ;-)
REALLY enjoyed your program at guild Monday...your quilts are gorgeous. I will have to start cutting my scraps (well at least the ones that aren't fusible!)
How about "ANOTHER Jared Takes a Wife?"
ReplyDeleteI'll be missing my own quilt retreat in May for the very same reason but, as you said, it will be worth it. Mending fences is always worth it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your trip - I come from a large family too - 3rd oldest of 12! I see some of them now and then but we are spread out and some I only see every 2 or 3 years sadly sometimes just at funerals! We need to try harder.
ReplyDeleteKaren
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Hey Bonnie...you could enter it in a show and if it wins a ribbon you could name it "Jared takes a trophy wife' bwaaaaa-ha-ha!!
ReplyDeleteLori in VA
Good decision, Bonnie. Have a wonderful reunion. Take pictures to share with us, too.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for the family reunion. My family all live on the other side of the country too and I miss them terribly- explains our huge phone bill! As they age you begin to realise that you might not see them again and that you have to make the most of every opportunity to be together.
ReplyDeleteThe best advice I ever got for going back to see my family was "Go as an anthropologist, not as a missionary." It wasn't meant in the sense of a religious missionary, but 'go as an interested observer, not as someone who has to try to change things.' It was a huge help in awkward situations. Good luck! You'll be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, Glad you can grab the chance to be with your family. And looking forward to seeing you and your quilts on Friday! Yippee!!
ReplyDeleteBonnie what a wonderful Mothers Day you will have. I would give anything to see my Mom for one more time. I am the oldest of her 4 daughters and we were like girl friends when i reached my late teens and thereafter. I am blessed in that I see 2 of my 3 sisters a lot, the 4th lives in Texas but we talk a lot. Go, have a grand time and relish the memories. God Bless
ReplyDeleteSo glad for you that you get to go to your family reunion. Hope you have a wonderful time reconnecting.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Jared's FIRST wife? Did I miss something?
Louise
Yep. Whatever the reasons it's hard to be so far from family.
ReplyDeleteHow nice, I wish my family would have a reunion. Maybe I'll host one when I get back there. We used to have them all the time when I was younger.
ReplyDeletehave a great time.
It IS worth it--safe travels to you.
ReplyDeleteCan a uniquely Bonnie pattern called "Mending Fences" or "Family Reunion" be far behind?!
awllll Bonnie.. I'm so happy for you and your unexpected tirp home! ;) It will be great for you to all to reunite with one another - and you are so right, it IS worth it!
ReplyDeleteDo me a favor would ya? The very first moment you see and greet your momma and hug her...hold on to her for a few extra seconds for me and all of us who have lost our mommas. Oh what I wouldn't give to hug my momma one last time. (purple puddles right now)
Love from Texas! ~bonnie
Good for you Bonnie, enjoy the family, we have just returned from out trip to see the family in Germany, DM,Sister and DML all had big birthdays so needed to be there.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy.
Safe travel
Christine
Glad you're going...family is so worth the effort! Have a fun time!
ReplyDeleteYoh for family reunions. Haven't seen my mum and sisters since 2007. Speaking on the phone and emailing isn't the same.
ReplyDeleteI can just see you sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed, eating Chinese take-away and watching t.v. If it wasn't for your heavy schedule, I'd say that sounds like fun!
Wishing you all the you hope for in your visit to Idaho. I have a sister there who I love but who has some lingering wounds from when we were kids...I pray that one day she will let me back in. Every effort is worth it.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone will put the past behind and only think of today and tomorrow. God only gives you one Mother, and nothing is worth losing that relationship. Best wishes for making up for lost time, and I am DYING to see how that "LSU/Mardi Gras" Jared's looks. My daughter would die for a quilt in those colors! We're all keeping positive thoughts regarding your reunion. It will be a "roses" day.
ReplyDeleteVery exciting that you're going to see all your family. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt's a crazy sounding trip, but I doubt that you'll regret it.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I have to say something else....I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU ARE MAKING A SIDE TRIP TO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA! I CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE WORKSHOP BUT WILL BE AT THE LECTURE. WOOHOO!
great lesson about family in your post. Thanks for reminding us. as always travel safely Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, how wonderful for you to be able to go see your mom. My mom lives in SC(I'm in MO) and I have withdrawals if I don't see her at least once a year. I'm lucky, I guess. I know you'll never regret the price of the plane ticket!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I ordered your book thru your site and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!
I am missing you.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say congrats on your new book. I got my Quilter's World today and saw it in there. Way to go Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteAfter getting together for a family funeral, my family decided to meet each year. The distances are smaller (200 miles is the furthest anyone comes) so we can do it in a day but it's been fabulous to keep in touch with cousins and extended faily which we wouldn't have otherwise done. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMake amends, visit and enjoy each other.....I waited too long and now most are dead and the rest aren't speaking to each other. You go girl....one of 7 siblings Kim.
ReplyDelete