The Superior Express -

Have you ever had one of those weekends packed with activities and so many different emotions? With high school graduations occurring in schools in communities near and far, some parents and grandparents were having to travel to a loved one’s graduation in one direction in the morning and turn around to hurry off in another direction to a second loved one’s graduation. Weddings were held this same weekend. Then there was Mother’s Day. It made one’s head spin trying to go to every occasion and celebration on the weekend.

For myself, the recent weekend was one filled with sorrow, fellowship and celebration. My head is still spinning, recalling it all. A loved one died and choices had to be made as another loved one was graduating the same day as the funeralwhich was held miles away. A trip was made the day before the funeral to visit family members. Though it was sad thinking of losing this precious woman in our lives, it was good to get the hugs and share memories with one another. It seemed to ease the pain. It was a long drive back home of almost five hours, yet it was good seeing the sites along the way.

It was down those long highways my father and father-in-law would take traveling with their loaded combines and trucks into southern Kansas and Oklahoma to cut wheat. The wheat along the route looked tall and lush. Some wheat was heading out. I arrived home to view two beautiful flower bouquets I received for Mother’s Day. How thoughtful to be remembered!

The following day was a windy one, typical for Kansas, and we headed for a high school football field where the graduation ceremony for a granddaughter was to be held. The bleachers and chairs were full. As the band played the usual Pomp And Circumstances, the graduates walked down the appointed lanes in their caps and gowns. The graduates were having a challenging time holding onto their caps in the wind, as they one by one walked up to get their diplomas. Then it was on to our granddaughter’s reception with her family and friends gathered around wishing her well. How did she grow up so fast?

The late afternoon hours found us headed to a cousin’s farmstead with storm clouds rolling above. A family reunion had been planned by this cousin to coincide with her son’s high school graduation. We had to miss his graduation as, of course, it was at the same time as our granddaughter’s graduation. As we all began to assemble for the reunion, we had a time introducing the ones we hadn’t seen for many years as the hard rain and small hail stones began to hit the metal roof of the building. About 50 members of the Heskett family were in attendance. Grandad and Grandmother Heskett were well remembered by most of us, but there was the third generation present who never had the chance to get to know them. A project began with us gathering and lining up all the first cousins to take a photo, followed by the second generation photo shoot. It was so good to see every one.

The following day we learned that an expected joy had happened with the arrival of our first great-great niece, little Ivy May. Her grandmother who had attended the family reunion was headed south to see her first grandchild. What a blessing! Then for us it was on to church, followed by a family dinner on another side of the family. My husband and I hope we don’t have another weekend like that for a while.