Updates:
On Monday, I loaded up the car and ran errands all day, then picked up DB (Divash's Bashert) after work so that we could immediately head down to what I think as the Negev (Negev = South, in Hebrew) to fulfill a family obligation and mitzvah. For once, I actually managed to pack everything I'd intended to bring. That evening we drove from Chicago, IL to Sikeston, MO. It took us about 6 hours. We stopped at a Holiday Inn Express where we've often stayed before, slept till morning, and continued on our way after a quickie breakfast of foods we'd brought with us.
We arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Grenada, MS at about 1 PM Tuesday, showered, and headed right for the pool to drown our sorrows (meaning, to enjoy the water, because it was only about 67F in Chicago, but was 95F in Grenada) for an hour. Afterwards, DB and I drove over to my grandfather's house to meet up with my aunt, cousin, uncle, and grandfather. Everyone was glad to see us, and much was made of the fact that DB drove partway. DB has only had a driving license for a year. No, I'm not kidding -- DB has always lived in large cities, and taken bikes or public transportation everywhere. My grandfather especially was proud, because he remembered his grandfather learning how to drive as an older adult when the first cars were available in their neck of the woods.
Later we drove back up to Memphis, TN to pick up my mother from the airport, because she'd flown in from Oregon, and bring her back with us. The original plan was for us to bring her to Grandaddy's place, but there were extra people staying there and no more room, so she came to our hotel instead. I loved getting extra Mama-time. I had not seen her in three years, because all her vacation days had been spent seeing her aging parents, and all mine had been spent dealing with deaths in DB's family.
Wednesday morning, we visited and socialized in an understated way. For us, that means no one playing piano while the rest of us gather around and sing. Instead we all looked at family pictures, reminisced, and just behaved like calm people. Very unlike us, I assure you. At noon, we all headed over to the gathering hall where we'd arranged to have the 'event' (which is a word that makes it sound much more grand and huge than it really was).
People spoke, people sang, people discussed theology, people caught up on each other's lives. One person tried to make a scene, and was thwarted, thank goodness. The event ended successfully, meaning that no one wound up on the news. Relatives whom I saw all report being fine, or "as well as can be expected, thank G*D." The friends peeled off gradually, leaving only family, who all met back up at my grandfather's place for more togetherness. It was weird, how well that went. What family reunion doesn't have any fighting or problems? Seriously, it was eerie how well it went.
The private family gathering was held on Thursday at my grandmother's place, way out in the backwoods of Oakland, MS (you could look it up, but even Google and my car's GPS don't have actual maps of the "streets" in the area). Everyone went away with something that meant something to them.
From there, DB and I set off directly for home. That is, our current residence. We've stopped right now in Marion, IL, and it's good to be in a quiet place. Even while they're being quiet, there are so many of my family that they do make quite a buzz, so my head's ringing a bit. Or maybe it's just that I'm tired. Either way, though, I feel gratified, as though this journey has been very worthwhile.
We hope to be back in Chicago by about 1 PM tomorrow. Wish us luck.
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