Family Re-UNION

Just back to Eugene from a family reunion in Michigan these past 5 days. It was my mom’s side of the family – the Murphy’s – that brought us all together. Since my dad’s family is also from the “mitten” state we had a few members of the Lind clan in attendance as well.

We gathered at Lake George, Michigan where my grandpa and grandma Murphy built a cabin we know as the “Rinky dink.” It’s a tiny little cottage on a wooded lake that, for the past 50 years, has hosted many a family vacation. In my childhood the cottage seemed a quaint little home where we swam, fished off the dock, and played in the yard.

Gab, Griffin, Missy and Pollyanna on the floating dock at Lake George

This time, it was the younger set of kids all doing the same. But, now the lake is lined with cottages and second homes – some built so close together that you could stand between them and touch both at the same time.

Aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, pets, and partners all came together for a several day fest. We celebrated each other’s good company with copias amounts of food, spirits, laughter, song, games, dancing, old pictures, stories, and very little sleep. We are a big close family that came from all around this little floating globe to be around each other.

Some personal one-on-one time was captured with certain family members. But, mostly it was a shared experience of bonding together as a clan. Building that sense of community that is “family” to this big Irish clan. I am reminded of how important our community/family is and how lucky I am to be part of it all. We accept and love each other just as we are……………different, unique, wacky, strong, soft, etc. and we accept our differences – disagreements and all. To know a community where so many incredible people come together is heartening.