4 Generations of Hands

We had a party today for my mother-in-law. I think she is 86 or 87 years young. We took lots of pictures of her with all 6 of her grandkids, and with her 1 great-grandson. I was struck by how this hands picture shows the young and the old, and those that are in-between.

Its obvious that the little hands belong to my 8-month old grandson. Merrick Perry has merry little hands. Ya gotta love the dimples. He also knew to reach for the "bling of the ring."

Its also obvious which hand belongs to the birthday girl. It's a beautiful hand, but most of us can't escape the fact that we are going to have wrinkles. She looks great for 87, but age has a way of "finding" its way on to the road map of our features.

Next... comes the hands of my wife, and then my daughter. My friend Mike used to kiss my wife on the cheek, and say, "You have lovely skin." She does. I hope my daughter inherited her skin.

We had pork loin on the grill, broccoli salad, tuna salad, baked beans, mac and cheese, chocolate sheetcake, and lemon bars. A nice spread.

Grandma opened her presents at the dining room table. Her three girls went together and got her a VERA BRADLEY PURSE AND WALLET!! The other girls at the party oohed and aahed. Two of them said, "I looove Vera Bradley." To me...even though the salesgirl told my wife that it was the latest Vera Bradley offering...it was still a little vibrant for my taste. To me...it might as well have been MILTON BRADLEY. At least if she does carry her new purse...she would be hard to lose in a crowd.

I was fortunate when my first daughter was born, to travel to Missouri to have a 5 generation picture taken. We had to load my great-granny Berthie into my dads van. She had trouble with that first big step up into the van. I had to get underneath her, and practically "push" her in by her buttocks. She chuckled, but it was a little more "intimate" than I wanted to get. Safely in...we drove to the Bloomfield Vindicator to get our picture taken. "WE MADE THE PAPER! WE MADE THE PAPER!!" A week later...many copies were bought and mailed.

Other than me having on a pair of pants that look like my grandmas curtains...at least to us, it's a priceless picture. Just like todays shot...pictures help to make wonderful memories. And...sadly, when people start to leave us...sometimes memories are all we have left.