Congratulations to Jack and Ruth Wheeler (Jack is my cousin, Ruth is his new bride) on their weekend wedding in the Adirondacks! It was a beautiful event, and everyone had a grand time! My immediate family decided to head home a day early because of the chilly weather, and because Elizabeth is on the tail end of a second ear infection. We want to avoid a third.
It was really wonderful to see all of my relatives - I wish I had more time to spend with all of them. Uncle John - send measurements! I was absolutely serious about making a kilt for you!
My sister, Shannon and her husband Gary have been borrowing photo albums from various family members, and for the past year, I've been pestering her to put some on a CD for me. After I pinned her down and licked her face, she finally made me a copy (after kicking and swearing at me).
I spent an hour this morning going through each one. If I had to pick only one favorite, it would have to be this one:
This is my grandfather, William Wheeler. He was an amazing man, and this picture gives you a tiny glimpse into the life of one of the heroes from my family history. He was a New York State Trooper and a "Rough Rider" from Troop D, stationed in Oneida, New York.
That image really makes me proud to be a member of his family.
Elizabeth liked the picture too. She pointed at the horse and said "pppppppppppppp," which is her word for the sound a horse makes, and also her sign of definite approval.
Shannon provided me with hundreds of pictures, and as time allows, I'm hoping to post a few more for you all to see. For now, I'll leave you with the typical "Heather the Brat" family picture and story. For reference: I'm one and a half years older than sister Shannon.
Who: Me and gullible sister Shannon.
Where: The sandbox
What: A feast
The scene: Standing before my mother is a screaming Shannon and a guilty-faced me. She asks simply, "What happened?"
Between sobs, Shannon chokes a tale of woe. Somehow I had convinced her that my "Sandbox Surprise" was a giant, tasty pie.
With great compassion, Mom wipes away Shannon's muddy tears, and explains carefully, "DO NOT listen to Heather when she tells you that DIRT is PIE. It's not pie. It's dirt. Dirt doesn't taste good. So the next time she tries to convince you that she has made pie, DO NOT EAT IT."
Shannon nods, sniffles, and heads back out the door.
Mom issues a warning to me: NO MORE MUD PIES ARE TO BE FED TO YOUR SISTER!
Five minutes later I lead a crying Shannon by the hand, back through the door. This picture was taken at that very moment as I delivered my sobbing sister to my mother.
Mom asks: "Shannon, what did you do?? I told you that she is feeding you mud - those are NOT pies! "
Defeated, muddy, and empty of excuses, Shannon cried, "But Mom, she told me they were COOKIES!"
Comments
My best friend, Annie, and I convinced my little sister we were eating tiny bits of wood (which of course we weren't), so she ate it. And I had her sit on an ant hill and poke a stick in it - I don't remember doing this as a vicious thing, but it seems like it is now. ;)
Posted by: Mary Elizabeth | May 13, 2006 12:20 PM