Spring Break

We traveled to Mississippi this week to spend time with my mother and father, Mimi and Papa. Time spent in their company is always time well spent. About a month ago when I discovered that almost the entire family would be visiting (only Jeffrey and Cullen were missing, both working at new jobs), I asked Mom to let all of her family take on the responsibility for meals. Like most families, our get togethers revolve around meals. She graciously agreed.

Food was aplenty, but so was conversation. Throughout the various events from Saturday through Tuesday, wherever one looked were cousins getting reacquainted, grandchildren playing with great-grandchildren, and aunts holding nephews (for the most part, since Harper is the only niece young enough to be held).

There was the photo session of seven great-grandchildren in Mimi's back yard. More than a few golfers decided to tee off from the ladies tee down the way rather than further distract the circus in our yard.

There was the picnic in Mason Park with fried chicken supplied by Aunt Bitsey. Kids swinging, bumble bees bothering, pine cone T-ball playing, and more talking! It was sweaty, but fun!

I wanted to photograph my parents and chose backgrounds purposefully. Here is Mimi in the park-like graveyard where her parents, Mamaw and Papaw (Eva Brannan McMillan and Newton Jasper McMillan) were buried, their headstones in the background. There is a bench for resting and reflecting, as well as a pond to gaze upon. It is quite serene.

One morning Papa and I drove up to Heidelberg to walk about on the land there. We came across two snakes, a rat snake and a copperhead, during our walk. We were unable to find any remnant of the 'initial tree', where we had carved the initials of Ashley, Erin, and Cullen (for sure). I cannot remember if we ever returned to carve Todd's initials. The tree was probably cut by loggers in the early 1990's, but I had hoped it might have survived. If it still stands I could not find it since the entire woods have grown so over the last twenty years.

Each year a patch of flowers planted by my great-grandmother sprouts and blooms in the yard beside Granny's now-abandoned house. I have a photograph of Papa as a very young boy (perhaps 5 or 6 years old) standing in front of that home, long since demolished. Still the flowers clearly mark the walkway leading to its front porch.

Here I photographed Papa leaning against a giant pecan tree planted 70 or 80 years ago. Granny's home serves as a fitting background; he and Uncle John built the home during World War II.

The night before our departure Valerie invited the family to her home for a fish fry. Taylor demonstrated the easiest method of cleaning fish I had ever seen. He literally filleted each bass in less than a minute without removing the scales or guts. He was masterful with his electric knife. My compliments to the chef!

Here is Julie saying something to the effect of: 'If you take one more photo of me while I'm talking, you may end up wearing whatever is in this glass!'

Valerie's new kitchen is spacious and open, inviting everyone to gather 'round.

After returning to Texas on Tuesday, Brenda and Erin headed to Austin to return the Nydeggers to their home while I spent the day in Flower Mound getting cars repaired and boats ready for a season at the lake. On Thursday I met the Walkers at the lake and Brenda joined us later. The weather was sunny and warm but the wind was too strong to enjoy riding in the boat. Instead we played and napped and ate. Late that afternoon the Walkers returned home to work on other projects leaving Brenda and me to wile away the next 48 hours doing NOTHING - exactly as we wanted.

We napped some more. We read aloud to each other a novel Brenda had recently begun. We drove into Corsicana to look at old homes. And we dined on peanut butter and bananas, diet soda, and assorted nuts.

We watched sunsets and sunrises in awe. We took the boat across the lake for dinner at a nearby marina and smoke-filled bar. (I think Brenda and I may be the only two folks in Navarro County who DO NOT smoke.) Basically, we did whatever we wanted and NOTHING we didn't want. It was the perfect vacation!

The early morning light was wonderful. Now, if only I could learn to use it creatively.

I call this shot, Self-Portait at the Helm at Dawn.