Time has a funny way of sneaking by if we’re not paying attention.
Although I’ve personally made myself become more aware of time it still has it’s moments. Two weeks, three months, a year go by and we all say to ourselves “how is it already August?” Or in this past weekend’s case:
“How has it been 22 years?”
It had been 22 years since we had an official family reunion in South Dakota. The original, named Andersonville, was a nod to Grandma Myla’s maiden name and her two brothers Ray and Clif. There was a large military tent set up in Grandma’s backyard and we smoked food, played baseball, and went on a hayride to tour the countryside and show our cousins the land. Although I was very young the experience was a memorable one. We took a group photo to commemorate it and everyone went their separate ways.
Fast forward 22 years - a lot has changed! We’ve gained new family members, expanded, and spread our wings. It was my parents turn to host the gathering at our farm just southwest of Summit. They put in a ton of work getting the yard ready, organizing the tent setup, and preparing the meal and activity schedules. I pulled into the yard Friday afternoon and it was literally sparkling.
What followed was a weekend that words couldn’t fully describe.
As family members started to pull in late Friday afternoon we exchanged greetings, hugs, and quickly moved inside the tent for shade. We feasted on food, played catch with the football, and organized a welcome for the late-arrivals (Ben and Alex). The welcome consisted of the entire group gathering around the driveway on both sides with our hands in the air yelling with excitement as they pulled in to the surprise. I obviously put this together quickly once I learned how nervous Alex was to be the last one pulling in while everyone watched.
We ended Friday with a hayride and bonfire and began Saturday with an amazing brunch. A group of us navigated to the basketball pad for some friendly games of H.O.R.S.E. Then we walked to the back of the yard to do some target shooting. After that we came back to the tent for pie and ice cream. What’d we do after that?
Naturally, we decided to start a volleyball tournament. We played game, after game, after…game. We had some pulled pork delivered and sat down to get plump full. Then? You guessed it - more volleyball. We completed 27 games before the sun went down. My calves are still on fire.
Sunday we had a light breakfast and had chicken for lunch. I gave a quick closing message and thanked everyone for making the trip. It was a blast! Grandma Myla gave a final word and we all began to say our goodbyes.
As quickly as the anticipated summer weekend came - it went. All of sudden everyone was heading back home to their city, work, and routines. Time really does fly when you’re having fun.
A trip back home always seems to ground me. It’s a humbling reminder of just how simple life can be. We get so caught up in the chaos, the stresses from work, and the uncertainty of what’s to come. When we do that we forget to focus on, and enjoy, the things that truly matter. My friend Mitch and I like to call them “The Moments In Between.”
This past weekend was no different. I was fully engaged in the conversations I was having - I was asking questions, listening, and intrigued to learn more about family members I hadn’t seen in between 5-22 years. To put it simply - I had a blast.
The weekend was filled with laughs, stories, and memories that will last a lifetime. The weekend flew by as they always do, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
If you have the opportunity to travel home, visit a family member you haven’t seen in a while, or call (not text) a long-lost friend of yours - do it. Right now. And remember this:
“All we can do with time is measure it on a device. That’s it. You can’t hold it, see it, Snapchat it, download it, Like it, or buy it. It is nothing. All it does is move forward.”
- Why You Need To Fail (Chapter 7, Page 46)
Be sure to take advantage of your time.