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New Jersey, hoooooooooooo!
Dec. 28th, 2002 10:26 pmHeatray will be the first to tell you I'm lousy on long trips. If it's my job to keep you awake at the wheel, you're in for trouble. I'm especially bad at this at 6:05 in the morning after a night of dancing, but even when I'm driving, I get sleepy fast. The ride down to Rivervale was a little longer than normal due to construction, but I was starting to nod after 40 minutes! I think it has something to do with the hum of the car, the low vibration, the lack of debris or mutants shooting at the car with spear guns. Much like the T I used to ride it work, it quickly puts me to sleep. A few cans of Amp later, and I'm alert and well fortified for the trip.
There was a bonus this year: Uncle Ron had uncovered folders that my grandfather had kept. One for each year, they were scrapbooks of my mom, aunts, and uncle as they were growing up. The oldest folder dated back to 1938, and there were several in the 40's and 50's. There were old report cards, newspaper clippings, pictures of my relatives. They were amazing. My grandmother looked like a movie star, and one of my cousins is the spitting image of her. There were photos of Aunt Marlene the ballerina, and the article that said Ballanchine had chosen her to dance in one of his productions. Pictures of my mother, feeding her pet sheep that she used to ride around the house. My other aunt dressed in a uniform, looking straight out of a 1940's musical show. And my grandmother again, wearing laced up boots taller than mine. I think she would have made a fine Goth. And every binder started out with a card: anniversary, birthday, or holiday card from my grandfather to my grandmother. The simple beauty of them was amazing.
I'm taking a break from the gathering to write this down now, before I forget it. The turkey, pork, and lasagna are all put away. The coffee and wine has been drunk, and Mrs. Doubtfire is winding down. My cousin's baby Aiden (coolest name ever!) took an instant liking to me when we met, to the surprise and delight of my aunts. I was most pleased.
There was a bonus this year: Uncle Ron had uncovered folders that my grandfather had kept. One for each year, they were scrapbooks of my mom, aunts, and uncle as they were growing up. The oldest folder dated back to 1938, and there were several in the 40's and 50's. There were old report cards, newspaper clippings, pictures of my relatives. They were amazing. My grandmother looked like a movie star, and one of my cousins is the spitting image of her. There were photos of Aunt Marlene the ballerina, and the article that said Ballanchine had chosen her to dance in one of his productions. Pictures of my mother, feeding her pet sheep that she used to ride around the house. My other aunt dressed in a uniform, looking straight out of a 1940's musical show. And my grandmother again, wearing laced up boots taller than mine. I think she would have made a fine Goth. And every binder started out with a card: anniversary, birthday, or holiday card from my grandfather to my grandmother. The simple beauty of them was amazing.
I'm taking a break from the gathering to write this down now, before I forget it. The turkey, pork, and lasagna are all put away. The coffee and wine has been drunk, and Mrs. Doubtfire is winding down. My cousin's baby Aiden (coolest name ever!) took an instant liking to me when we met, to the surprise and delight of my aunts. I was most pleased.
