Memorial Day Memories

Memorial Day memories come in all shapes and sizes. Mine came in the so many different forms this week-end that I felt like I was in a time warp. I traveled back to Mayberry to a place where life was similar, people are kinder, the pace is slower and family is still family no matter what.

It's a small town in Oklahoma that goes by the name of Tecumseh. It's the town where my parent's met, fell in love, got married and had babies. It's the town that started it all. It's the town of heros, American Soldiers lost in battle, their bodies not returned to their native soil for fifty plus years, one of them was my great uncle.

A small town were members of many different races blend together in harmony, coexisting, learning from one another, many marry across race lines and form new families. Some of those families are my cousins. It's a small town with a main street that used to have a barber shop with an old fashioned striped barber pole - the place my son got his first haircut. It was my Uncle's shop.

It's a town where my Dad built a small little house for my Mom the year I was born - 320 Nth 4th Street - one address I will always remember - My grandparents bought that house years later and lived there till they both died many years later in their 90's.

Every Memorial Day our Grandmother's family the English clan have gathered together somewhere for a family gathering of food, laughter, tears, and talk. Each year the number changes as new children come to life and the elders get their Heaven dates.

Family reunions are fun and sad. They remind us of who we are, where we came from and they give us a glimpse of where we are going and what we will be. It's that time warp thing again. It's a time for sharing and then again maybe not. After we eat and clean up, it's off to the cemetery to pay honor to our family who have gone before us. It's a family tradition, one that is passed on generation to generation.

Tecumseh was a great journey and every journey has an end. The end of my journey was to go to pay tribute at our son's grave. I know that Bo is in HEAVEN,

I know that he is with his REDEEMER, but I also know that as his Mother it is important for me to continue to champion for him, to honor him and to pay homage at his grave. It is part of who I am. It is what we do for our loved ones who have had their HEAVEN dates.

My journey didn't end today, I am just beginning to see what GOD has instore for me as I continue to honor those I love by paying tribute to those who went before me.