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On a quiet afternoon any time last week, cicadas could be heard chirping in the trees. According to the old wives tale, once the cicadas start to sing, it means there's just six weeks until the first frost.
Many, myself included, have been asking ourselves where the summer has gone. My family has been busy preparing for my sister's wedding in September - and time sure seems to be ticking as the days move faster and faster!
This past weekend my mother and I held a bridal shower for my sister, Gina. We went down to Kieler on Friday afternoon to get set up and make last minute arrangements for the cake, games, etc. as we planned to hold the shower at my Grandma Bernadine Wiederholt's home there.
Grandma "Bernie" as her friends affectionately call her, was excited to see us. My mom visits and gets to spend time with her often, but it was a special day for me as I have a lot of cousins and rarely get to spend one-on-one time with my grandma. I thought it was neat that three generations got to spend time together that day; how often does that happen?!
I woke early on Saturday morning and headed down to Kieler. Mom, Grandma, Gina and I waited in anticipation as the guests were due to arrive any minute. Gina, in a lacey white dress, greeted guests as they came. We asked that everyone who attended write a message or special advice to Gina on a wooden spoon, so at the end of the day Gina had lots of advice on marriage. And lots of spoons too!
After the party winded down and all my relatives left, only me, Gina, Mom, Grandma and two of Gina's high school friends remained. We pulled up chairs next to each other and Grandma shared lots of stories about living on the farm, being married to my Grandpa and everything in between.
I cherished the moments she spoke of my Grandpa, who passed away from cancer five years ago. She told stories that I had never heard before, and that my sister had never heard before either.
It got me thinking about all the older people in our communities who have so many interesting experiences and stories to share. How many of them will go untold if not for special days like Saturday when we all pulled up chairs and gathered around Grandma?
I encourage you all to talk to your elderly neighbor, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles...have them tell you a story from the past. Keep their stories alive by telling them to your kids, your neighbors, your relatives.
And don't hesitate to call or email this young journalist with your story or the stories you'll hear. I will gladly listen or read with much appreciation.