A family reunion in which we will honor Jeff. A fire ceremony, a tree planting ceremony, a bacon fest, and lots high flying flags -- Jeff's last reunion legacy.
We want to honor Jeff by commemoration. We want to honor him by continuation. Continue to fish, continue to gather for coffee on Jean's porch, continue mimosas with Chris and Nora. or at least I hope Chris and Nora feel so inclined.
Ahead is a dimly lit traditional family reunion, it is there, but I'm heading to it through fog and mist. Jeff was such an integral part. He maintained the campfire, wrangled the logs, axes, chairs. He strung lights, baked bread, and relaxed in his chair. He strung the first flag line, kind of like reaching the top of Mt Everest, he planted first the idea and then the reality. He planted that flag line firmly in family tradition.
Seeing the reunion in my mind's eye without Jeff is almost impossible, but still I will be traveling to it soon, driving down that twisty road to embrace family like I always have -- that won't change. The change will be the missing shade tree, the empty chair, the empty space that was Jeff.
Our reunions have survived the loss of mother, the loss of dad, the loss of James and Josephine, it will survive the loss of Jeff. But this reunion will be heavy with that loss. This reunion will be the fog and mist before we emerge on the other side in a different way. A different family. The same -- yet changed.
I imagine our hearts will break in a million untold ways. Creative Mark is busy with a t shirt design, I'm searching bacon recipes, Jean is planing menus, each and every one of our traditional activities will break our hearts a little bit at a time, yet in the end healing will emerge, also a little bit at a time.
A strong, beautiful, vibrant family will continue to weave itself into the strong fabric of life as our legacy continues in our strong beautiful families, all of our families. My three sons, Jerry's children and grandchildren and great grandgirl, Jean's brood, far flung Janice, Julia's bunch.
The legacy Jeff was most proud of was the legacy of his children and grandchildren. They survive. They are here, alive, vibrant, warm, woven of the strong stuff Jeff passed on to them. His glory.
Jeff did impact us all in such a positive way. That impact transferred and continues on, it doesn't stop with his death. The impact of that goodness, of humor, of joy ripples out continuously. Remember Jeff commanding base camp with the walkie talkies?
A reunion approaches honoring family, tenacity, joy, bacon. Jeff would lead the way for feet propped up, toes dangling off the dock, hikes heading off into the woods, the trek up and down the cabin hill, fire poking, weiner roasting, goodie box grazing.
I'm going to the reunion not knowing what to expect -- except the sun will rise and the sun will set, and all of us trying to be like Jeff.
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