People, Places and Praises...Days 14 thru 16

Aunt Erma, Uncle Ron, Aunt Barb

Aunt Erma relives years gone by...

June 18-20 Days 14 thru 16...The visit with Aunt Erma went great. She is the oldest living 'Williams' relative and has a most infectious smile:) She was married to my great-uncle Raymond, who was the brother of my grandfather Kenneth Eugene Williams. They were sons of my great grandfather Ray X Williams, of whom I had a four generation picture of the 'oldest' sons back in 1971. The visit was also attended by second cousins Donna, Glenda, Monie, Connie and her husband Rod.

Uncle Ron takes his turn

Ray X Williams 'Willamette Falls'

As most often occurs at family get-togethers of this type, many stories and pictures made their way around throughout the afternoon. Aunt Erma, in her mid-ninties, is sharper than a tack. Recently moved into a care home, but moves and thinks as someone many years her junior. I loved her stories of my dad, grandfather and great grand parents. One of the pictures passed around caught me by surprise as I knew immediately where it was taken. It was from March of 1955, likely during school Spring break, because my father along with great grandparents Ray X and Mammie traveled to the West coast. This particular picture was of Ray X with his typical hat and cigar at Williamette Falls in Oregon City, Oregon. I have past this particular Falls literally a couple thousand times on my ride to and from work for decades. I plan to go there one day and capture a similar photo and then combine it with the original and send it to the family.

Ricky, Rick, Ray X and Kenneth

Love that Turkey Leg :)

Wednesday, the 19th of June made for another fine day. I got to play mini-farmer as I mowed Cheryl and Doug's five acre parcel. Took me 55 years, but I was finally able to become part of the Williams family tradition of Iowan farmers. Ok, Doug and millions of other farmers might question that fact, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it:) While riding I thought about Ali Jo saying how she had not attended a baseball game before. I asked, not really knowing just how exicted she would be to attend with cousin Rick. The two of us had such a blast...at 'Fan Fest' hitting baseballs and running...she beat me, but she's quick to point out that Rick "was running backwards". We then shared a monstrous turkey leg and have a wonderful photo to remember it. And as we were about to enter the park we saw to the side a familiar looking character. Typically we see this fine looking gentleman around Christmas...could it be? We went up to ask, and would you believe, it WAS 'Santa Claus'. He showed us his drivers license from the North Pole for the necessary verification, asked that we not tell his secret and said that he was vacationing in Omaha to watch the game as well. We didn't ask who he was rooting for:) But I do hope that the Beavs have been nice and not naughty:)

Rooting for the Beavers!

On Vacation is he?

Thursday, the 20th I was off to visit with Aunt Barb, then Uncle Ron and Aunt Joann looking through archive photos and recalling stories of the past. Many of both I had totally forgotten, including a trip via Greyhound Bus that I apparently made by myself in 1965 at the age of seven. Wow! Or eating ice cream together with Cheryl and Randy all the while wearing some of the 'most ridiculous' swim attire. Best not show that picture to the grand kids, they would for sure have quite the laugh! Uncle Ron and I would later share some time and a drink at Mc D's while I connected to the WiFi, finally able to send out some pictures from this ride. I then bought fixings for spaghetti and cheese meatballs, made this together with Ali Jo and sat down to a wonderful meal and later more reflections of past days with my 'most special' of families!