family day
in which we celebrate the idea of family
11 years ago, my then seven year old nephew decided he wanted to throw a party. Well he wanted us to throw a party. And it wouldn’t be just any party; it would be one where we celebrate family, according to my precocious nephew. We agreed, figuring it would be just like another Saturday of my family being together, cooking up some hot dogs, going for a swim. The usual, except we would now call it Family Day.
Well my nephew had other ideas. He wrote lists. He planned meticulously. He thought up games to play. He suggested colors for the decorations. He set times for each event (eating, games, swimming, dessert), and assigned people duties. He was in charge.
Our first Family Day - held as always in my parents’ backyard - was a rousing success. We invited a few relatives and had a lovely time in my parents’ backyard hanging out, eating, and playing the games that Robby arranged for us.
We are now on our 11th Family Day, coming up on August 12th (just remembered we skipped 2020 for obvious reasons). Our first had about twelve people. This year we have invited 109! It has grown from a little gathering to something the family looks forward to every year to this enormous party with friends and relatives and neighbors. We spend months making plans and my sisters get busy with the crafting as far as making invitations and can cozies and the board for the trivia contest (yes, we have a trivia contest every year, complete with a Stanley Cup-like trophy). This year we will have karaoke, cornhole, and volleyball as well.
My heart has felt warmed this week by been hearing from people who plan on attending, on the anticipation, the planning. Every time I talk about it with my sisters, my heart soars. I am not, by nature, a social person. I do not like big gatherings. But I make exceptions when it involves family and friends celebrating life together. A lot of us are getting old. It’s nice to gather and have fun and remember why we all feel so lucky to be part of this extended family. There’s nothing more important to me than savoring your time together now. Too often when the family is together it’s because we are a funeral. We need to celebrate life - our lives - while we can enjoy it all together.
Life has been rough lately and I still have some things to get through. But Family Day sits in the back of my mind all the time, and I feel joy every time we make another arrangement or decide on other logistics. Having something to look forward to in the dog days of August is always nice. I hate the summer and the heat and the way this season feels like it drags on forever. Family Day is a respite, an oasis, a day full of joy in the midst of a month that just drags on.
My friends and immediate and extended family have all been there for me as my life and physical health unraveled during the past two years. To have everyone in one place to celebrate each other and family, to be surrounded with all that love and care, it is filling my heart with joy at a time when I really need that. Family Day is less than a month away. We have so much to do. And so much to look forward to.
