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| One of the few pictures of all of us together at my Grandmother's house in 1954. |
I have so many wonderful memories of time spent with my cousins when we were young. My maternal Grandmother had three children and each of them had three children, so when we were all able to get together there were nine of us kids. We all lived in different cities in Arkansas but despite that, all or part of us managed to get together on a regular basis.
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| My Grandmother's house in the 1950s. |
We would often go to my Grandmother’s house on holidays or weekends. Although my Grandmother and her house are no longer here, it was my favorite place to go throughout my life. I will always remember playing outside and digging in the dirt with my cousins at her home. We had a few special toys we played with in the dirt making roads for tiny cars and creating new worlds. Do kids even play in the dirt anymore? The meals were always wonderful at her house and there would be a special “kid’s table” for the younger children. I was the youngest grandchild so I was always at that table and that was fine with me.
Cousins in 1948 before I was born.
Sometimes all or part of us would meet at a lake or creek in the summer and have a big family picnic. I grew up going to these family picnics. We would go swimming or play in the water and then share a big meal. There would be all kinds of different food and always at least one big watermelon.
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| One of many picnics. |
I’m pretty sure I took those days for granted and did not appreciate how special they were for all of us. Now those of us that are left are spread to the wind all over the country and we never see one another. I do keep up with most of my cousins through email and Facebook. In fact, that is the only reason I keep a Facebook account – to keep up with my cousins. I was talking to one of them the other day about how much has changed in so many ways. Those days when we got together we were kids and always into mischief. Now all of us “kids” are the elders in the family. How in the world did that happen?
Bonnie, those are wonderful memories and photographs to cherish! Families that get along well AND meet for such outings are greeat, and I am glad to say I spent a lot of time with my cousins as a kid, too.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I have three cousins on either side of the family (maternal and paternal). The two sides never met, but we regularly saw both sides, and had a lot of fun playing with either sets of cousins when we were young. Also, I always knew when my oldest cousin had a new dress that I would end up wearing it a few years later - our parents were sensibly handing things down instead buying everything new every year (the money simply wasn´t there for that anyway).
Your grandmother`s house looks so inviting! She must have been happy to welcome you all at her home - but probably breathed a sigh of relief when you were all gone, too :-)
PS: I forgot to add that I can still very much see the little girl in your profile photo's face.
DeleteI'm glad to hear that you had cousins you were close to also! I think in the past people made more effort to get the family together and it made a big difference for everyone. Being the youngest, I used to get hand me down clothes too but I didn't mind because they were new to me.
DeleteMy Grandmother's house was small and simple but it was special to all of us. She was widowed when my Mother was just five years old and her brothers built that house for her and her three children. We all loved spending time there with her.
What wonderful memories and photos to spark those memories
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue. I love how your grandchildren are able to all get together sometimes for that is how those special memories are made!
DeleteWhat great memories. And pictures, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Those days were special. Today families seem to all live too far apart to get together much.
DeleteMy one thought when looking at the first photograph was what beautiful smiles you all had. Clearly, you enjoyed each others company. Good memories.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in several places overseas and since my mother was British, just my maternal cousins were close and not all of that time. Only one grandparent--mother's mom--was still alive by the time I was born as my parents were older. Briefly met a few of the paternal cousins when we moved back to US. My Dad's siblings lived in many different parts of the country. I've never met or been in contact with most of them. My parents, aunts, and uncles have been gone for many decades and since then I've lost touch even with the cousins I knew. C'est la vie.
I'm sorry you didn't know many of them. Sadly that seems to be the way it is for many people these days as families seem to live so far apart and don't get together much. I was not close to cousins on the paternal side as there were so many of them I never got a chance to get to know them. My kids did not grown up around other parts of the family either and I always felt bad about that. The world is so different today.
DeleteThis reminds me very much of our family traditions. Infact, I could post cousin photo like yours. Our get togethers were over
ReplyDeletefishing. I look back and they were good times.
I love some of the family pictures you have shown on your blog Red. Those years were good times. It seems like these days extended families don't get together as much as we used to probably because everyone lives too far apart.
DeleteI still see the cousins on my dad's side of the family a couple of times a year. We usually take it in turns to host a get together or all go out somewhere for the day. It has led my and their children meeting without us in distant places when they happen to be near to each other. We always say how pleased our parents would have been.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful Tasker! Yes, your parents would be so pleased to know the family has bonds and is still getting together. I wish I could say that about my family now but sadly everyone lives too far apart from one another. Your children and their cousins will benefit from the family relationship now and in the future.
DeleteIt is amazing, how wonderful were our lives back then. My mother continued the tradition. Her favorite saying that any grandchild who didn't leave a ring in the bathtub every night had not done his job that day. But those very same grandchildren, including my daughters, have scattered to the wind. I wonder if they keep up with their own cousins, or their children's cousins.
ReplyDeleteI love your Mother's favorite saying! My own children did not have the extended family gatherings that I had growing up because everyone lived in a different state. It was difficult and expensive to get time off at the same time and travel to get togethers. Like you say, everyone is scattered to the wind now. When I was a child it's just what life was at that time. It's what we did.
DeleteSuch great memories, I'm sure. I have a lot of good memories too. I grew up with a ton of cousins. I wish I had more photos of back then.
ReplyDeleteMaybe some other family members have some photos and they could share copies. One of my cousins and I share photos a lot. It is so easy to share digital copies by email if you scan the old photos. Those years when we were young sure did pass by quickly!
DeleteThose are some great photos and memories, Bonnie. I really enjoyed reading about it. I was never close with any of my cousins as my dad was in the military so we only got together with them every 4-5 years. That is one of the reasons we work hard to make sure my kiddos get to spend time with their cousins. I really want them to have those relationships.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for working to give your kids the family relationships! When they are my age (old!) they will thank you for it!
DeleteI sure hope so. My best to you and your family and hoping you are feeling better.
DeleteLovely to see those photos Bonnie and hear your memories. We had three cousins on my father's side of the family, my mother was an only child so no cousins there. We used to see the cousins regularly until I was 16 when my father died and his sister, my aunt and mother of the cousins, fell out with my mother over discussions about cancer which was a very taboo subject in the 1960s. Although my mother tried to keep in touch with the younger generation we believe that my aunt turned them all against us. It was very sad and we still talk about them and our memories of happier times and have made efforts to be friendly with our cousins but all efforts have been rebuffed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel. I am sorry about the situation with your cousins. Such breaks in family life are difficult for everyone. We have similar situations in our family now that breaks my heart yet there is nothing I can do. My sons did not have a chance to get close to their cousins because everyone lives so far away from one another. Thanks for stopping by Rachel.
DeleteBecoming an "elder" happens far too fast, doesn't it? lol I certainly can vouch for that!
ReplyDeleteGreat memories, Bonnie. Cherished memories of times of innocence and fun. One would hope children of today enjoy similar, but, sadly, I don't believe they do. Too many these days have their heads buried in cellphones, computers, etc., to see the light...to dig in the dirt...to run carefree under the sun.
Take care good care...I hope all is going well for you and Tom. :)
Thank you Lee. Yes, those were special days that I'm afraid are gone forever. My own kids didn't get to see very much of their cousins because everyone lived too far apart in different states. Thanks for stopping by Lee, you and your sweet kitties take care too!
DeleteWhat precious memories and pictures. Oh, they make me long for old days, old ways. About playing in dirt...no, I don't think kids play like that as much as we did. I even heard a doctor talking that if kids were allowed to get dirty, they would not be near as apt to develope allergies.
ReplyDeleteI really, really enjoyed this! Such a fun read.
I'm glad you enjoyed the memories Rose. I sure miss those days too. Kids today have wonderful advantages but I think they have lost out on the joys of the simple times.
DeleteMy parents moved from Rhode Island to Texas after I completed first grade. Cousins on my Dad's side were all in Iowa and California. Cousins on my Mom's side were all in Pennsylvania. There was no extended family around, just the three of us.
ReplyDeleteAfter my mother died and my dad remarried just as I was finishing high school, existence changed greatly for me. My stepmother was the second oldest of 10 brothers and sisters, and nine of them lived within half and hour of each other. Twenty-some cousins were thick as thieves.
I much prefer the big family atmosphere to the isolated one.
P.S. - And I, who had been an only child, became the middle one of five!
DeleteThe distance between families such as you had early in your life is often what prevents cousins from becoming close. That is what happened with my own children. We all lived in different states and my kids knew their cousins but rarely saw them. That must have been a huge change for you to suddenly go from being an only child to part of a big family! I'm glad you prefered and enjoyed the big family!
DeleteI usually only see my cousins at weddings and funerals! It's sad because, like you, we all grew up close together!
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad when we can't remain in close contact with family. I guess these days everyone gets so busy with their careers and such plus if they don't live close it is hard to get together. My kids didn't get to be close to their cousins because we lived too far away from one another.
DeleteGood Memories! I was the oldest Grand at the Grandparents we went to every Sunday... we had some good times. No I am not sure kids play in the dirt anymore...remember mud pies:)
ReplyDeleteYes, they are good memories! I do remember mudpies! I loved making them! I wonder what "good old days" our kids and grands will remember?
DeleteThey were the halcyon days of innocence and simple pastimes. The top picture looks like a singing group - Bonnie and The Cousins:
ReplyDeleteTry to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh so mellow...
I doubt that we would have been much of a singing group YP, but we sure could make a lot of noise! Life was so different then...
DeleteThinking of you, Bonnie...I hope all is well up your way. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lee, I'm getting by. I hope you are doing well.
DeleteThese photos are wonderful Bonnie! You remind me of Shirley temple with those curls! I miss my childhood life. If only I knew what lie ahead I may have remained a child if I could.
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone! I agree with you - if only we could remain in our childhood!
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