Life is funny.  When you’re in a moment and you’re young you don’t think about looking at things so you will remember them.  Maybe it’s because I’ve always felt untethered moving from place to place, house to house. The familiar to me was those places that were consistent and never changing.  Perhaps that is why while I could move to a different home in Wichita, we find our selves still in our starter home.  One of those constants was the Kramer Reunion at Aunt Alice’s.  As I find myself aging, I try to remember those times when we were all together and I realize how lucky we are in that we had these annual get-togethers.  Many of my friends don’t know who their great-aunts or uncles are, let alone all their ‘cousins”.

I just love this photo of the Kramer siblings.  I’m sure like in all families they had disagreements and hurt feelings at times.  But that never stopped them from getting together as a family whenever they could and supporting each other when needed.  The joy on their faces tells how much they love and care for each other and how happy they were to just spend time together.  

Today is the Kramer Reunion in Cullom, Illinois and while many of us can’t be there to join in the festivities and partake in the good food, just knowing that we are all celebrating whether we are there or not makes me happy.  So today as you have your dinner, raise your glass and remember all the Kramers that have come before us and the legacy that they have left in us.  Happy Birthday Aunt Alice!