Helen Rothenberger Hampton's Granddaughters

I spent this weekend with my girl cousins.

see Photo ; Deb (my sister) Laura (in red) Connie (Laura's sister) Toni (in brown). Kelly (Toni's sister) and me


My Mothers' parents had four children. Two boys and two girls. 11 grandchildren -six of which are girls -and each girl has a sister. Our cousin Connie lives on the West Coast -but she is here helping with her dying mother, my mother's sister in law.

It is very sad but she is strong in her faith and has accepted her time here is short. My Uncle died this past Spring and I know he is waiting to dance with her again -like most couples of that generation. they loved to dance. At the party for their 50th wedding anniversary -I cried when they danced to their favorite song. So when we decided to have a girl cousin get together with Connie -we went to see Aunt Diane also.

It was a Kleenex weekend.

At one point we all gathered in her bedroom, on the bed and in chairs pulled in and she told us about how Uncle Jack asked her to marry him and meeting Our grandparents for the first time. We laughed with her and then left, when it was time for her nap. Later that day we went thru family reunion pictures , I had brought with me. I know we exhausted her, but she was so gracious to us.

Connie and Laura. arranged for a friend to come to the house and visit , while we all went out for a girl cousin dinner (Aunt Jerry, our mother, gave my sister, Deb and I money for the trip so we used it to treat all of us to dinner -with love from Aunt Jerry -it was a lovely surprise).

Then we all went back to Aunt Dianes home -where Connie is staying -and visited and laughed and mostly cried. Kelly and Toni lost their parents first and are a wonderful source of support , both practical and emotional. Deb and I can offer love and support anyway way needed. These women -all younger than I -are so courageous. they humble me. I am so proud of them and to be part of our family. My NaNa, would like her granddaughters, we are good, strong women.

I dont know what Deb thinks -but I am overwhelmed with the thoughts of my parents entering this stage in their life. When I came home I tried to talk about it -but they both changed the subject. I dont even know where the will is or who the lawyer is !

All of my Aunts and Uncles prepared their children for all the details and Uncle Dick even had his funeral home picked and had Thank you cards printed , to be sent after he died -It was a picture of an outhouse on the front and on the inside it said "When you Gotta Go -YOU Gotta GO !" ; he even signed mine! Jeeze..... I burst out laughing -my sister in law was very upset and cried.

Today my parents left to Fly down to Florida for the season -they will be back for Christmas -then fly back. But my Mother lost her wedding ring, She has lost weight and apparently it slipped off. She noticed it when she was putting cold cream on her hands but doesnt know when or where she lost it. SHE WAS VERY UPSET. A 59 year old , original gold band -she never wanted replaced. I hope St Anthony will help me find it while they are gone.

Life is funny.

One woman is saying goodbye , her wedding band still on her finger for however long God grants her life and then, in death, to dance with her husband again.

The other woman ,so very upset, knowing that unless she finds her missing ring, for the rest of her life she will miss that band of gold, from a man she can still hold.


I love them ALL..

Graduation Weekend!!!!

I haven't written in a while -so say some fans(?) -but my life is , well -sort of boring. My cousin and her daughter are coming in June for three days -my house is a disaster -i have given fair warning and they still want to come and visit. Go figure.

My niece Rachel, graduated from college on Saturday, YEA. Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, Pa. I rode up with my brother and sister in law and after the graduation and informal reception (very nice finger food and beverages) WE proceeded to empty her dorm
room.

Well, actually, my sis in law and niece did and my brother carried boxes up and down the stairs. Her roommate , also a senior, was also moving out and her parents were there helping. It was way to crowed for me. I waited at the bottom of the steps -on door duty.

My brother had brought a dolly that folded into a cart. The first load he pushed. The next load I pushed -alone- it seemed difficult -but I kept pushing . Got to the parking lot curb and two of the layers of boxes fell off. Disgusted with my stupidity and weakness, I refused the help of college students standing around and loaded up the boxes back on the cart. I then proceeded to dump them again. This time the college males no longer listened to my refusals and reloaded the cart. By this time my brother came back to me -having loaded the boxes he carried in his car. He gave me the 'LOOK' only a male can give a female and said 'i thought i showed you how to lift the cart over the curb?".

He had , I thought i could do it better. I was wrong.

Then my niece told me :"Aunt Robin , maybe you better guard the car". I hadn't planned it , honest, Tom Sawyer. I really did want to help.

Later we went out to dinner. Niece , Heather , living in Texas, the grandparents and my sister and husband, hadn't been able to make the graduation, but, my sister, was able to join us for dinner -along with my brother's mother in law. I was starting to feel the pain in my lower back. Yep, I hurt my back. I don't know how my brother did all those stairs and carried all the boxes. He even helped carry, Rachel's roommates' heavy computer ,down to her dad's car.

What a good man is my brother.

He knows how to lft carts over curbs, too!

A nice weekend

This weekend I traveled to my parents home 2 hrs West. They are still snow-birding in Florida. But I check on the ghost and remind the house it is still loved.

This was a special weekend, my first niece was home for 48 hours from Texas. She is maid of honor in a friends wedding this May and was here for the bridal shower. I was able to see her for about 2hrs on Saturday for dinner. It was NOT long enough but it was very gracious of her to include me in her busy time home. My sister was also with us. Then, because her car is in the shop, borrowed mine until Monday.

This worked out really well for all, because my second niece had her Choral Concert on Sunday. My brother and his wife picked me up at my parents and we all went to the concert except for first niece who had to catch her flight back to Texas. She is a second grade teacher. My sister, with my wheels , was able to take her to the airport. My brother usually does the honors, but this was his youngest daughter's last concert in College. She graduates on May 16th. I am glad we all were able to go.

After the concert . the four of us went out to dinner at a chain restaurant called Bertucci's. I didn't enjoy the food much but the conversation and my niece talking about her courses was perfect. Then we dropped her back at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, where she had a 7:30 study group meeting. She is very busy these last few weeks.

I had hoped to meet her new man friend, but he was not able to join us. He works for a zoo in the area, and gives outreach talks and lectures with his zoo animals. He also helps in raising some of the baby animals. I think he has a kangaroo now. He did have a baby bear. My second niece, who never met an animal she didn't want (and brought home lots of them -her favorite being snakes) seems to get along well this new zoo man. As long as she is happy. We talked a little bit about jobs and resumes. I would not like to be looking for a job in this economy.

I am sitting here in my parents home watching the rain and listening to Classical Music on their TV. It is weird I only get one local TV channel at home, but here they get over a hundred channels and nothing is really perking my interest, So I listen to music without commercials. Even the Sci Fi Channel is boring. Soon my sister will be here to get me and we will pick up her car. I will probably drive home tomorrow in the sun. I like the rain just not to drive in.

It was a nice visit but we all have our own lives now and it is time for me to go home.

Thanksgiving with Family and Others

Oh I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I did . My brother and his wife invited me to join them at Karen's sister; Denise's in laws . With the Hosts' ok first, of course. They always get together with Karen's parents, and her sister's family . Karen's brother- in- law's parents built a home in the same block as two of their four children, so it makes sense to have everyone gather there. Along with extended family. The house was planned for these family gathering and lucky me. I was asked to join them. I was pleased.

It had only been 18 days since the heart stents had been put in and truthfully I just wasn't feeling up for family and Thanksgiving. But my brother had taken me to the hospital and stayed with me and waited until I was back in the room. We didn't know , going in , if it would be stents or by pass open heart -so I was doing a little independent female " I can do this by myself "- which he ignored and stayed with me. I felt closer to my brother than I have in years and when he asked me to join them -I was touched and said yes. I was thankful.

It was very nice, food was great and healthy. This is a picture of my niece, Rachel (21) with her boyfriend in the background; and a plate of the Thanksgiving feast! They made me feel very welcomed. I usually help out in the kitchen , but this year I just didn't feel like it. Thankfully, there were plenty of helpers to go around. I was able to sneak away and call my Aunt, from one of the bedrooms. She usually invites this maiden lady to join her family and I was missing them. They passed the phone around and I was able to talk to a couple of cousins and hear all the family in the background. The rest of the day I spent on the couch, next to my brother watching football games and sleeping (well I was the one sleeping). I let myself feel very vulnerable and safe next to him that day. My immediate family took good care of me that afternoon. I was grateful.

The only down side was my missing niece, Heather(23) who now lives and works in Texas and wasn't able to make it North for the holiday. We will see her for Christmas and I will be able to find out how she enjoyed her first Thanksgiving away from family. I hope her man and his family made her feel as welcomed and safe as I was made to feel. Everyone really missed her. I am so proud of her, for following her dream. I am humbled.

There is no such thing as an unimportant act of Kindness. Which reminds me I have to get the Thank you card in the mail to my hostess. I am blessed.

Family

Last night I went to an open air free concert sponsored by the Greater Wildwoods tourist authority and Coastal Broadcasting. The band was Changes in Latitudes a tribute band to Jimmy Buffett. No I am not a parrot head but i do like music and this band was great. The crowd was great /the food great (J. Otten Caribbean from CH -owned by a little girl, and her husband, from my street all grown up ,married with 2 children)/ beer on tap and a family crowd. Parents dancing with kids /kids dancing alone/beach ball pass/ FIREWORKS and well, just summer fun. Not much cigarette smoke, but I love the smell of cigar smoke and yes they were there also. The best part was picking up my cousin and his wife and Coast Guard son, in the Crest. We all had chairs and sat together /sang the songs /clapped and OK we all stood up and danced together too. smile The most expensive thing about this free concert was the parking (my cousin treated-I drove) $15.00 at the convention center -it was across the street from Fox Park and a great spot.

I spoke later to my best friend and he asked if I would have gone by myself and I said yes, but then i said; ' well, I would like to think yes but I don't know and I don't know if I would have had so much fun.' ( We never lie to each other). I am usually OK on my own and sometimes choose to spend Holidays by myself. This Holiday -July 4- I was feeling sort of lonely by myself. Oh I could have reached out to any one of my friends but I had just had a wonderful weekend past with my girl cousins and a girls only sleepover and then the big WONDERFUL family reunion - and didn't feel like it. I am the only unmarried/un-partnered older cousin and have always been OK with that -well mostly -but since I retired, I thought something is missing. I think I am to young to be retired and I am aware of my age for the first time. weird

Anyway , since the family reunion i realize -nothing is missing-i am exactly where I am supposed to be - in the midst of a warm and loving family. My bucket list keeps me pushing my comfort zone and doing things I always wanted to do.

So the question is could I have rocked on my own in WW in my Penn State collapsible chair?
I would like to think so - but ; I didn't have to .................................my family surrounded me.

It was a HOOT !

Pre Family Reunion

Saturday is our family reunion -we have been planning it for -oh I don't know -4 months? Anyway it is my Maternal Grandfather's side of the family. He had a brother and three sisters. The sisters never had any children that lived and so that connection died -once I think my grandfathers first cousin(s) came. One even brought some of his grandchildren -but they had so much more money than we did and were spoiled shits -we tried but they never came back. Now his brothers children and their families are starting to fall away. Illness, distance, lack of interest other commitments.
The story goes that my grandfathers father "The Hampton" came to the US from Scotland with his first cousin"The Henderson" . They had gotten in young men trouble with the local football team (Rugby) drinking etc... and the parents decided to send them to the sisters and brothers all now living near Philly. They came with their bag pipes ( left in the attic of my great-grand mothers house -the bag had rotted away and no one wanted them) and their clubs (golf clubs in a linen white bag -we may still have them) and their plaids (lost forever). Who knows if it was true. We lost track of the bothers and sisters of my Great-grand father. And the stories have migrated over the years.
I actually made it to Scotland -not to Aberdeen -but I kept saying to my sister all the time we were there -all these men look like Uncle Charles -my grandfathers brother. smile I never saw anyone that looked like my grandfather who was very tall and thin and had piercing blue eyes. Eyes and a look that made you want to confess to chopping down all the cherry trees in the world. I now realize he must have been a genetic throwback to some beserker Nordic raider that landed in Aberdeen and left his seed to co-mingle in my family genes.
No one knows that story. I just haven't written it yet. :))))))
I am looking forward to this reunion. My mother started hosting it after my Grandfathers sister got to old (so the family thought) for the work involved. And as my Grandfathers oldest girl grandchild -alot of work IS involved. My Mother sort of decided not to have it any more. When we were little my Grandfather's four children and their families (both boys and both girls married and had children -Total 11 living grandchildren) all got together at my grandparents home in York, Pa for Thanksgiving.
I cant remember when the summer reunions started. the first one I remember, was in 1956 my grandfathers mother , Kate's , 80th birthday. I think that would have made her 24 when her first child was born -my grandfather. She had married when she was 23. I think back then, she must have been an old maid.
The story goes that she met my Grandfather when he walked into the weaving room of the mill where she worked in Lima, Pa. She remembered a man with a plaid scarf and a Scottish bough so think she could barely understand him. He was on a job interview and said he decided to marry her the minute he saw her. I think he was younger than she was.
Every birthday and special occasion he would write her these terrible rhyming poems in her cards. My mothers brother recently gathered as many as he could find and copied them into a book for his sisters, We have since copied and recopied them and now all grandfathers Chas's children have a copy. sweet. I will have to remember to bring it to the reunion.
Recently my grandfathers girl grandchildren have decided to try the reunions again. Not at my parents, but at a park. It is a first for our summer reunion. Our cousin from California and her Missionary brother and his family from Africa are going to be there. But alot of people have sent their regrets and now my parents aren't coming.
This why I am so glad we all are on the Internet . I will be able to write a letter and upload pictures to everyone that didn't come. So next year -and I really mean it -everyone that is Healthy enough to come -will rearrange their lives to participate in something so wonderful their children will want to continue.

I think it is called Family.