Moving On
I’ve been reorganizing our storage room filled with shelves of books and family records. I found a small notebook and recognized my mother’s distinctive handwriting. It’s a record of trips she and Dad took from 1976 to 1978; motels, restaurants (rated), how many miles they drove.
Two of our children and both of my brother’s children were born during those years. During that same time, Grandma settled in Merced with my aunt. Mom and Dad made numerous trips from Brookings, Oregon to the East Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California. They drove thousands of miles to keep in touch with those they loved. They drove and drove. Between trips, Mom also wrote volumes of letters.
They weren’t the first to move away and miss the family they left behind.
Grandma set out from Switzerland. Grandpa set out from Germany. Rick’s grandmother came from Sweden through Ellis Island and across country by train to work in San Diego where she met his grandfather who sailed windjammers around the Horn. None of them ever saw their parents again or many of their siblings. Some siblings followed their lead and came to America. Others sent letters and pictures.
I think of the people on the wagon trains west who left family and friends behind to find a better life for their families. Some of my relatives came “west” from the eastern seaboard states to Nebraska and then down into Colorado.
Our children all live within easy reach of us. We’re thankful to have them close. However, Rick and I know there may come a day when our children will have to move far away in order to find better jobs, more affordable housing, more opportunities for their children.
One of the things that never changes in life is that life is always changing.
Enjoy the ride!
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11 Comments to "Moving On"
One of the things that never changes in life is that life is always changing. That's the truth! I've learned that It's best to go with the flow and God will provide. Looking forward to reading Her Daughter's Dream.
God Bless you!
It's funny, my oldest daughter lived an hour and a half away
for six years. Then she and her husband moved back home. Within months both of her sisters moved about 40 minutes away in different directions! Yes, indeed, the only thing that's certain is that things will certainly change!
PS Just as a point of clarification...Her sisters didn't move away because their big sister moved home! :)
Blessings!
Thinking about you "reorganizing" reminds me of my project. I have a closet full of photo albums, photos taken and stored by year, boxes of photos and momentos of things my mother and mother-in-law saved, calendars I wrote on daily since I was first married, in '63 (and am still doing today), etc, etc, My purpose in "sorting" was because not only did it need doing but I wanted to make an album for each of our girls from birth till marriage. Each now has 3 children (but that's for another time!) Thought I would do these for Christmas (several years ago, actually). When I got my first digital camera, that's when I stopped having actual photos except for special ones. SOMEDAY I'm going to have to sort thru those and get them on discs I suppose. There are books to be read, needlework projects to do, etc not to mention household chores that take up time too. I'll keep chipping away, and maybe this Christmas....
barbara
How true! One of my grandmothers left her family in Italy in 1945 as a young war bride. She was the only one of her immediate family ever to move to the U.S. My other grandmother didn't see her father for years because she and my great-grandmother came to America right before World War I broke out, and my great-grandfather couldn't come until the war was over. Just two of countless similar stories that brought so many to where we are today. Thanks for sharing your reflections, Ms. Rivers!
I am sure you have every reason to be thankful. Having your family close is a gift and should always be cherished. However, I don't think you and Rick should concern yourselves too much with the expectation that your loved ones may someday leave to go somewhere else - just like it happened to your parents and grand parents. The land where you are might just be enough for the whole family. There would be no harm in desiring they stay close forever....
As my children quickly grow up and out, I am faced with that same realization. It's comforting to know that many before me have made this same adjustment and have lived to tell about it :)
Have a blessed day.
Sometimes the ride is hard. Our son and his family moved to Colorado from Texas in 2005. It was with many tears from all of us that we watched them drive away. The road is long, but at least it is there. Unlike our ancestors before us we are able to stay connected; and no matter how many miles separate we are still family and our hearts are one.
Hello Francine,
We are in the middle of a two-week family reunion in Ashland, Oregon. Your story reads like ours. We brought my great-grandfather's chest up from California; it was with a family member we'd never met. What a delight to meet her and discover letters, journals and photos from 1850 and earlier. They came by wagon, around the cape, and from the Netherlands, Wales, and England. They married Native Americans and settled all over the United States. They were people of faith, for the most part. One of our biggest treasures is a bible from the 17th century that belonged to my great-great-great-grandmother.
Best,
Cheryl
This blog totally relates to me right now. I am in transition in so many ways that I know nothing but change is inevitable. For example, I am turning 39 next week, which marks the end of one age category into another, the big 4 0. I will be a grandmother in February, as my first child, and daughter, is expecting. She has come home to live with me while she awaits this new adventure. And, God has placed me on a path that will be taking me from California, to Oregon sometime in the next few months.
So, relocation, age and entering into grandmother-hood are all individually significant journeys, together... it makes for planning a wonderful yet challenging year.
Life is fun, isn't it?
I moved about 6 hours away from my parents for college... and 3 years after I graduated, I'm still here (So Cal). I guess that is because I found my wonderful husband and he gave me a reason to stay! I do miss living very very close to my parents though, and our long road trips (from San Francisco to St Louis in a van). We kept journals of our trips too. Granted, I was only 8, so it was a pretty amusing journal with some pictures -- but I am grateful for the memories!
That's crazy how your grandparents all came here and had to leave family behind. So sad. But look at the legacy that they have made here!
I am excited to read your newest books as I am from Switzerland! My mom and dad came over by boat (with me as a 3 month old baby) and what was a two year dream of living in American turned out to be a life time! I just returned from spending 2 weeks with my dad and two sisters in Switzerland where he summers - what a sweet time we had! Glad to know about your "Swiss" heritage!
Warmly~
Monique