ramblings on the weekend - remembering family

[MrsBrady]

My husband has gone hunting this weekend.
(please don't make any pro or con statements about hunting, I'm not exactly for hunting...and that's not the point I'm going to make here.)
My husband hasn't really been hunting before, but he grew up in the country...taught me how to shoot a rifle recently. They're going pheasant hunting.

The reason it's kind of a neat thing...not about the hunting really. But what's cool for me is with whom he's hunting.
My mom's first cousin invited my husband to go with him and his two boys (the "boys" are in their 40's, were in our 30's)...their wives and kids were coming for the trip as well.
My grandmother and one of her many sisters, Mary, basically lived their whole lives together in the same small community in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle area.
I spent a lot time with my great-aunt, mom's first cousin and "the boys" because of this.

It's a big deal to those guys to go hunting, apparently...
So when they invited my husband to go hunting, he said yes.
Not because he wanted to hunt, really. But he realized it was a family thing for them, and they were including us. I can’t go, because I'm finishing up my last semester and I'm studying for finals next week. While that's disappointing for me, because I haven't seen these cousins in quite a while...I’m glad my husband is now a part of this. My husband and my mom's cousin have hit it off since we’ve visited, and one of "the boys" lives near us now.

Actually, one of my favorite child hood memories is of spending time with them.

I used to stay the summers with my grandparents, because my grandmother was a teacher and I could be with her while she was off work. My mom was a single parent, and had to be at work. I loved being with my grandmother, so this was fun for me.
Aunt Mary and her husband had a farm. I went to stay with them sometimes a few days here and there if my grandparents couldn’t watch me. This town was/is isolated enough that often one would drive over 2-3 hours for a doctor’s appointment, stay all day to shop and run errands, stay the night in a motel, do more shopping the next day, and then come home.

I could have been as young as 9...maybe 12 or 13. I don't remember exactly.
It was late June, and I was with my aunt and uncle and these same cousins mentioned above...I guess "the boys" were older teenagers then. The wheat ("winter wheat"...planted in winter and harvested in June) had been harvested already. As far as I could see in every direction was nothing but wheat stubble. The forever sky met a golden horizon. It was a clear, bright sky. It was certainly and still is a place for God's minimalist work. The sky wraps itself around you. Stunning.
I remember they started a controlled fire to burn the stubble. I had spent quite a bit of time on farms as many family members were in agriculture, but I was a city kid. I had milked cows, gathered eggs, worked a garden, even gathered cow patties, watched a different uncle herd his cattle with his pick-up, but I had never seen this done. It was strange to see the flames, and watch the fire spread over this one field. I think I can still smell the smoke and dust as I’m writing this.
I guess, looking back now, there was nothing that was particularly earth shattering about that day.
But being an only child, for a time, I think I pretended “the boys” were my brothers. And I thought they were so smart for knowing how to handle the burn.
My great-grandparents helped to settle this area, and my great-great grandparents are buried near there as well. I think it all just comes together and makes you feel like a part of something.
Even if I don't know exactly what that "something" is.

I can't go this time, but I'm sure I'll be able to see them soon. It just feels good to know that my husband is in with the guys.

One of “the boys” came to see my grandmother while he was up visiting his dad. I happened to be there. I think it must have been the Thanksgiving before she passed away. Anyway, he stayed and stayed and stayed. I think he and his wife were supposed to go on to see his wife’s family. But he kept lingering. I think he didn’t want to go, because I think he knew he might not see her, my grandmother, again. I’m sure it aggravated his wife, and my grandmother even mentioned that she though he may have stayed too long because they had another long drive ahead of them. My grandmother liked his visit. She always called him “the sweet one.” But I don’t think she knew why he lingered. I did, though. I just didn’t say anything.
I just know he was thinking of his own grandmother, the times we had all spent as kids…and just didn’t want to leave. His wife is nice; I just don’t think she picked up on what was happening.

My great-aunt Mary died about 15 years ago. My grandmother passed away 2 years ago.
Being around these cousins makes me feel as if were all very young again, and our grandmothers have made a huge double family holiday meal. I miss grandma and aunt Mary’s cooking, but I miss those days even more. I miss them both terribly.

My grandmother and grandfather, and their parents too had a ton of siblings. I have a million cousins. I don't have any siblings (well, I have a half sister, but we weren't raised together, so I don't really feel to sisterly with her...anyway, I digress), so my cousins are important to me.

So I’m rambling now...a lot more than I had planned.

I did some studying tonight for finals this week. And now I’ve stayed up way too late writing this.
Oops, need to feed the cats, too.

[txwhitedove]

1. I loved your "rambling" story. Grew up in Oklahoma with grandparents

who had many siblings, farmers, dairymen, so I can relate....