This past weekend, my family, well, about half of them, gathered in Gatlinburg for the first time since 2005. In an attempt to beat the busy season of leaf-lookers that take over in October, we chose the third weekend in September.
Just as we exited the interstate, following our ten hour drive, we realized that the UT-Florida game and an antique car show that literally stopped everyone in their tracks also chose this same weekend. As family cars overheated, we, one by one, rescued frustrated family members by introducing them to winding back roads that were no short cut, but at least we were moving again.
The rescue efforts continued on into the next day. 1:00 a.m. 3:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Finally, all that were scheduled to arrive did so, and none of us had any interest in leaving our crowded cabin in the mountains ever again. Togetherness is what we came for, and it was well worth it. Laughter rang from three different floors of goofiness that only makes sense when we are together.
There was once a time that we would all be together at least once a year. On Thanksgiving, gathered around my grandmothers table, stating what we were most thankful for during that particular year. For some reason, getting together became more difficult once she left us. She would be so proud that we were together, and that she was very much a part of most of our conversations. She is the one who taught us about family, bathing each of us as babies in her kitchen sink, with a gentleness and love we still miss to this day.
Heading home from a great weekend, we scattered, thrilled with our alternate route to the interstate that bypassed the auto show non-moving traffic. We checked each other’s progress after splitting off at various interstates that led our separate ways.
Ten hours later, after we crossed back into Michigan, a mere 25 minutes from our house, traffic once again came to a standstill. There were no back roads to rescue us. We drove two miles in two hours. Again frustrated, after way too many hours in a cramped up vehicle, we were ready to get home. The glow of a great weekend quickly faded as we whined and complained about how it was after midnight and we needed to get home.
But as we finally made it to an exit ramp, we saw the reason for the hold up. A body lay covered in the middle of the interstate, a pedestrian somehow where pedestrians don’t belong. Investigators, measured, took pictures, and tried to recreate whatever happened to end a life that night.
And we were humbled. No longer complaining and silent for the rest of our trip, we remembered our loved ones, smiled at the prospect of getting together again, much sooner than later, and hoping to include those who were not able to join us.
Life is fragile. Family matters, and is well worth the trip, no matter what obstacles you may face in order to get to them. Bring on the Eddings Reunion for 2011.
That sign says you can make a friend disappear. Hey Crystal, come here. (spoken by Andrew)
poradic text messages from the girls, and we would compare notes to try and piece together what was actually happening in there. We dropped them off at 1:00, auditions began at two, and we didn’t get to see them again until 4:30.
