16.8.11

unbroken circle



Bags packed, car arrives at 18:30, so cold I don't even feel like swimming, just hanging out with my mom, sewing my beloved old white Brooks Brothers shirt that my husband discarded before he was my husband.

A little soundtrack to play along with this post:




Top shot is my cousin Adam and his wife Ann's daughter, Aili, who is five. I met her for the first time this summer - the last time we saw them, in London, Aili and Oliver weren't yet born - and now that they're back home on the West Coast, I miss them so much.






Family: it really matters. Meeting these charming, well behaved children - our cousins, our family - seeing myself, my mom, my uncle, (who died suddenly and tragically, years ago, shown above with my mom) in their eyes.. they make me wish we had children.



There was a moment, during my mom's birthday weekend, when she was telling the children - cousins who had met and bonded within minutes - about their great grandmother, her mom, who died two weeks after I was born. Then she told them about my Grandpa - their great grandfather. They were SPELLBOUND. (These are my parents, above, shortly after they were married. It is the only time I saw photos of my dad with a roll on his waist: he was always so fit, swam and played tennis and ran, but he said when they first got married, he was so blissed out he got 'fat').



A few days later, I was walking back from the pool on a glorious sunshiney day - you know the kind, when it feels like summer will last forever - and I had this sudden thought: one day, I won't be here. I wonder if one of them will tell some as yet unborn child about me. I hope so. I hope they will remember me, as I remember my family in my heart. I wish my father, and my grandparents, were there to celebrate with us, but they were. They so were.

I really hate to leave - one of my homes away from home - and as I do, I make my wish that I will come back. This was the most perfect holiday, ever. And oh, by the way, this is me.


8 comments:

Pilar said...

Aw, a very sweet post. I adore your blog because I'm never quite sure what I'll be reading (whatever the surprise though, it is always lovely!). Your Parents were quite a dashing pair!

adrielleroyale said...

I hear the blessed so fat thing happens a lot LOL :) And I agree with Ava too! :)

mtg said...

This is incredible! I do see how Aili and Oliver look like your mom and your uncle!! Things like this always amaze me: how sometimes children look just like their grandparents or aunts or uncles...

style odyssey said...

sweet post. yes, family IS precious.
and don't you look cute on the beach as a wee thing!
i hope you've had a chance to regroup from your wonderful holiday. i feel as though i have jet lag, which isn't possible given the one-hour time difference. i guess i'm just exhausted from a week of non-stop fun and not enough sleep! xo

Clazzerati said...

Jill, this is a lovely post. You defintely have a look of your father in you. I love how family traits, both physical and in personality, can be passed down throughout the family. You're an increidble spirit, Jill, and i'm sure your tales will live on for many generations. x

Mademoiselle Deva said...

the girl on the first picture is so beautiful! such a cutie!!!

SirayaWalker said...

I LOVE THIS BLOG SO MUCH!!

jill said...

Oh, bless you Siraya! And all who commented. xx