The inspiration for this summer's adventure began with a family reunion in Pocahontas, AR. We lost my Great Aunt Faye in 2020 early during the pandemic and then my grandmother, Granny Bea, in the fall of 2022. I was close with both of them and picked up many life lessons from listening to the stories of their childhoods growing up as cotton sharecroppers during the Great Depression in rural Arkansas. They were twins but different in every measurable way except for their penchant for arguing with each other.
Granny Bea Aunt Faye
Many of my memories of them happened in the kitchen preparing, making, eating, or arguing about food.
My mom arranged a family reunion with the surviving family members from Texas, Detroit, and Arkansas, so we honored them with a true Arkansas experience including a 4th of July family fish fry, floating the Eleven Point River, shooting off fireworks in the yard, catching lightning bugs, eating constantly, trading family lore, playing with the youngest cousins, and riding Uncle Hoyt's 4-wheeler around the property. It was lovely.
Floating the Eleven Point River with the whole crew! We spent a morning floating it, and another day splashing and swimming along the shoreline. It was a huge hit with the girls.
Happy birthday America!
Granny Bea's carport looks onto a beautiful tree covered property with trees. I have wonderful memories playing in the yard and have watched many a rainstorm from her carport. Our last day there, right after we left our final family hang, a double rainbow came out after a storm and I couldn't help feeling emotional due to to the symbolism of the two arcs of colorful bright light.
P & S glamor shot.
Opa wins the award for most books read to S & P while there.
Fireworks!
After Arkansas we drove straight to Sheridan, Indiana to meet up with Mike's family.
We had a delicious lunch with Aunt Beverly (Nana's sister), and Nana's brothers Kyler and Tyler.
Next we drove to stay the night with Jared and Mary, Mike's cousins who live in nearby Kokomo. They have a beautiful house, a great neighborhood for riding bikes, two awesome kids, and an above ground pool so S & P had a blast. They are both teachers so I enjoyed hearing their stories and perspectives, and I always enjoy talking and hanging with them.
Pool fun at Jared and Mary's house.
It was really nice to connect with family, both mine and Mike's, after the long break of COVID. Next up Columbus, Ohio to visit Walch and Isabel on our way up to the Upper Peninsula!
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