There's not much in my life that has stayed consistent. Excluding my family, there are very few people that I still know from my youth. There isn't a childhood house to come home to during holidays, I don't run into my 4th grade teacher at the grocery store, and I'm very good at getting close to friends and then having to say goodbye 5 years later.
This week I realized that the one thing that has been consistent throughout my life are the family reunions up in the Wasatch mountains. I've been coming to Snowbird my entire life.
No wonder this week holds such a special place in my heart. Up at 8,000 feet above sea level where the air is thin, my mom's family comes together to hike, swim, talk, eat, and have a talent show.
This is the second time Maia and Ruby have come to a Snowbird reunion, but it was really the first time they experienced it as kids, not toddlers. Things have changed over the years. The arcade has been turned into a game room with foosball, ping pong, and pool tables. The center has expanded their activity offerings from one Alpine slide, to a "roller coaster" and several other rides.
And just like the resort changes a bit each year, so do we. There have been birthdays (we got to celebrate 2 this past week!) and career changes and heartbreak and triumphs, all of which shape us into the people we are now.
This one week, every other year, gives us a chance to reconnect and learn each other all over again. Our friendships are renewed and solidified. We rejoice and cry together. We share laughs and music. But mostly we just enjoy each other.
Wifi on the mountain is sometimes touchy, which makes it easy to really let go of the stresses and pressures of real life.
My cousin lives in Salt Lake and hosted our biennial family reunion talent show. The front lawn was swarming with little girls doing gymnastics, while the adults gathered to talk inside, surrounded by instruments, arcade games, a baby, and a few teenagers.
My dearest cousin (closest thing to a sister I ever had) came from the UK with her gorgeous child and while we watched our daughters do cartwheels while drinking beers it was just a dream come true. We even sang a duet together for the talent show. I might share it with you, if you ask nicely.
These are most of the Pappas great grandchildren. (There are 4 more!)
And my generation. (Photo by Ruby)
Did I mention my cousin collects old arcade games? And lives in a renovated frat house? My sweet nephew was smitten with the transformer he found.
And can I mention again that we had a talent show? My sister in law whispered to me, "we could sell tickets to this thing!"
Living at 8,000 feet for a week is no joke. After Aleks and I had been there for several days and my brothers had joined us, we all decided to tackle the mountain. We hiked about 4 1/2 miles and ascended 3,000 feet to the summit of the mountain. It took awhile, but we all felt quite proud of our accomplishment and Kodi (7 months) handled it like a champ.
Being with extended family for a full week in a beautiful location is such a gift. The experiences we share and memories we make knit us together more strongly.
To my family: Take care of yourselves, love fiercely, and know that we'll see each other again soon on the mountain.
Until next time. xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment