Independence

I hope you didn't think I was bragging in my last post. I was just amazed, given that I just moved from a neighborhood in which we were robbed, drug deals routinely happened a few houses away, I had a scary white trash neighbor (eek, anonymous, I know what your friends are going through in Lake Co), and I sometimes worried that a group of junior high girls would jump me for my iPod.



I went south with the Insane Clown Posse this weekend to spend the holiday with my parents and brother and new SIL. I didn't take any knitting. Because I was going to write. I think y'uns can guess how that worked out so I won't spell it out for you.

We had a great time. Our grandmother and aunts and uncles and cousins came over and the day was hot. My beautiful cousin hung out under a tree and read while the rest of us were swimming.


Barley had a bath and found a big stick...


...and even Teak was able to spend some time outdoors. After getting a bath, that is.


We were also able to go to central Illinois to see my great-aunt and uncle who, in their 70s and 80s, still run their jewelry store.

It was very joyful during the days in southern Indiana, but night is when the ghosts come out. We've lost some key members of our family in the past few years - to death or Alzheimers or just changing relationships and we all tend to get nostalgic. I remain grateful that we have each other.