Happy Independence Day!

Day 25, Friday, July 4...last day in Southampton, MA

I hope everyone reading this blog had a wonderful holiday, celebrated with lots of laughter, friends and family, and terrific food...and a great deal of gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. I know that describes our day completely.

Now, if you're not connected to the Shirer family, it's possible that you'll be a bit bored by today's post. It'll be mostly family photos. So you have my permission to skip this if you don't feel like wading through "who's who among the Shirers"...and join us tomorrow when Curt and I once again turn the truck farther northeast and head for Maine. 

Honestly, I don't know anybody who loves to tell a story like a Shirer! This is the breakfast table...but about an hour and a half after breakfast was over. The crew is still sitting around the table, sharing great stories and memories:

When we finally got up from the table, preparations began in earnest. There were 18 people coming for dinner, and there was lots to do. Fortunately, Lorna is extremely organized, and she always had a task to delegate whenever someone said, "What can I do to help?"

Family members started arriving around noon. First Ross and Lorna's son Ross III, his wife Tracy, and their daughter Madison, age 4. What a sweet family! They live nearby, so Madison is right at home at "Nonnie and Bumpa's" house!

Next came Curt, Ross & Patty's brother, Kim, and his daughter Tricia, and her dog Snickers, all from Connecticut...followed shortly by Tricia's sister Kathy from Cape Cod. We had not seen this branch of the Shirer family in 35 years or more. Kathy and Tricia have become such lovely and accomplished young women.

L to R: Tricia, Snickers, Kathy, Kim and Patty.

Soon neighbors Ray and Yolanda arrived. They are Ross and Lorna's very dear friends, and give so generously of their expertise and resources in the neighborhood. Yola is from Poland, but some of her childhood was under Russian rule. She was surprised and delighted (as were we all!) when Tricia introduced herself to Yola and then began speaking to her in Russian!

Ross and Lorna's daughter Kirsten, her husband Alan, and Alan's son Andrew completed the group. These three are so gifted in MANY different fields...from music to finances, to aeronautics to fitness. AND they   were the outdoor barbecue chefs, so everyone was doubly delighted when they arrived!

Lots of catching up, mixing and laughter ( because all the Shirers are famous for their senses of humor and their playful pranks as well as their stories.) I'll add a few photos just to give you a sense of what it was like:

Patty had a friend make these "Wild West"cookies in honor of Curt, her Texas brother.

Lorna brought out a birthday surprise...a cake honoring brothers Ross, Kim and Curt, all of whom have birthdays in late June or July. "Happy Birthday, Boys!"

Before people started to leave, we took the opportunity to get some group family photos. Who knows when we'll be able to gather again like this?

Shirer siblings Youngest to oldest: Curt, Kim, Patty and Ross. It's interesting: Their father was a textile designer and professional magician and their mother was a homemaker with an extremely literary bent. All four of the  siblings became gifted and beloved teachers. Between them they have touched and enriched thousands of young lives.

The whole crew:

What a wonderful day! Curt and I are so thankful for Ross and Lorna for generously hosting this reunion, and for all the family members who made such an effort and traveled so far to come. THIS is exactly what we had in mind when we started our adventure. If it ended tomorrow it would be worth it, for the opportunity to reconnect with such an amazing family.