Today’s family reunion saw about 248 renditions,
combinations, and illustrations of our unique and beautiful DNA. We are a very tall tribe, strong-boned, and
sturdy-hipped. Many of us behold this
world with an intensely blue gaze. We
are fiercely stubborn, passionately loyal, and decidedly tenacious. You might
not want to mess with, argue with, or cross us!
Several years ago, our matriarch – Beppe (Dutch Frisian for
grandma) – passed away and we’ve all felt a little disconnected and disjointed
since then.
But today – today marked 70 years since my grandparents crossed
an ocean with six children and a seventh baby on the way from the Netherlands
to Canada - and we all needed to gather, remember, and celebrate.
About half of us could be there, because….well, you try to schedule
something with 248 stubborn, loyal, and tenacious tall people and you know why only half of us could be
there.
So we gathered under the pristine blue skies to share, talk, and reminisce. It’s something families can do well when they spend time together. My Aunt Susan stood up to share her 9-year-old memories of that Great Adventure that was their immigration story to Canada.
“We were so excited about this adventure on a boat that
would take us to Canada. Because we
couldn’t take much money over, our parents bought us new clothes and shoes
before we left. We were so excited but
also so sad to say good-bye to friends, family, church family, neighbours, and
Oma. We knew we might never see them
again,” she shared.
Once there were just the two of them, married during World
War II. My Beppe wore a black dress,
because that’s what Dutch brides did during the war. And now - even though Pake and Beppe no
longer walk this earth - their legacy does in 248 variations. Their legacy exists in the lives of their
seven children (one passed on), in the lives of their grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Every single one of us has been touched, tainted, and
tailored by joy and sorrow, life and loss, birth and death, healing and
hurt. It’s shaped the tall, sturdy-boned,
fiercely stubborn people we’ve become and as we live, breathe, and live out
these days God’s given us, I’m curious as to what comes next. What stories will we create? What adventures will we embark upon? What connections will we make? What legacy will we leave behind?
Once there was two.
Now there are 248. Let the story
continue…
