Transitions

This has been a strange fall.  I have enjoyed the beauty of the season immensely, but it has gone by quickly, and brought with it some deep sadness.  Sunday I lost my grandfather to old age and natural causes.  He was the 3rd grandparent I've lost in the last 4 months, leaving me with no more living grandparents.  With his death came a disconnection with a place and a generation that had been a large part of my childhood.  I now have very few reasons to travel to northern Indiana.  I won't see Amish horse and buggy at Christmas time each year.  I won't watch the light shimmering off the river on a bright summer morning while eating perfectly-made toast in my grandmother's kitchen.  I won't have anyone to share with me what it was like during the Great Depression or WWII.  This disconnection is only physical though.  I have many many memories from my childhood that will stay with me.  I also carry with me the legacy of faith that my grandparents handed down from their grandparents generation to my own, and one I hope to pass along to my own grandchildren some day.

 Arthur and Annabelle Evans

This fall has marked the transition from my grandparents being the eldest in the family, to my parents, aunts and uncles taking on that roll.  It is sad to lay a generation to rest- especially a generation who showed us that hard work, resilience, and faith can rebuild so much- however my parents generation has much to teach us also.  I hope that my children will value their grandparents the way that I value mine.  And I long to have the privilege of growing old and sharing my life with my own grandchildren.  My only hope is that by that time I will have lived a life worthy of reflection, and have experienced enough of life's ups and downs to earn the title of "wise elder".

Harold and Rose Marie "Rody" Weaver and their children (in order of age), Dave, Mike, Elaine (my mom), Anne, and Greg

I love you, Grandma and Grandpa Evans, and Nana and PopPop Weaver.   I look forward to seeing you again and sharing with you in person the result of your lives' impact on the future generations.