Did I mention? Rosie and David’s girls have four children in various srages of teen and adolescent years. They were all at Summer Haven too. We arrived there June 24th and the next day I drove to Jacksonville airport and picked up Kelly, my daughter-in-law, and my two grandchildren, Jakes and Lindsey. I really had to pee and there was no where to go. I knew this was a disaster waiting to hahppen. There appeared to be no one in the lot so I opened two doors on one side against an empty car, quickly pulled down my pants and peed, and what do you know, the guy in the car next to me came up to get in his car. I quickly finished and pulled up my panties, we smiled at each other and he drove off. I felt so much better I didn’t even care.
The cousins were all delighted to see one another. Also, my cousin Judy Grosvenor, who had just lost her Mom and brother within the last three weeks, (which means I should be kinder to her), drove from Atlanta to Summer Haven to celebrate with us all. That made for 16 people, at least, 16 people were staying in the house. If it hadn’t been for the expert hearding skills of Rosie, somebody would have slept on the floor. So half of us went back and forth to Palatka and the other half stayed at the beach. We had great fun playing in the water–once we old folk got out past the undertow and could stand up without help! How to feel old in 30 seconds or less!
Jennifer cooked 3 kinds of fish in 3 different ways…one of which was African Pompanno. It was all delicious. I made a banana pudding and Rosie made slaw., while Dianne sat on the poarch doing nothinng but holding court. The first day, Jennifer made some Minorcan Clam Chowder for anyoone who wanted to snack. Anyway, food was plentiful and the weather was fabulous.
The kids, on the second night, went into town on their own and Jakes was given the keys to David and Rosie’s Lincoln SUV that seats eight. He was delighted as he had his license for all of 6 months and he was careful. The kids really enjoyed each other.
My cousin Judy, Diannne, Rosie and I were sitting on the porch rocking and talking. Judy and Rosie are the more fundamental Christians . Dianne and I are not. Judy asked me to cancel her reservation in Wakulla (our next destination) because she needed to get back home for her mother’s memorial service. I told her I would, and Judy is a bit of aa talker so she kept telling me to call and cancel and I told her I was doing it online. She said she would prefer I call and she kept talkng. I was cancelling her reservation and talking with Rosie about something, and Judy kept talking over me so I kinda lost it and told her “G…dammit! If you want to do it then do it but shut up talking. She then informed me that I was going to hell for taking the Lords’ name in vein. I Told her to shut-up and she was wrong. I was not going to hell and I didn’t believe in hell. I don’t even worry about hell. I told her my God is generous and kind and doesn’t send peoplle to burn to death in hell! How can anyone believe that! Well, we got into a long discussion on the meaning/metaphoric or otherwise of the Bible as God’s word. Di and I upset our more fundamental relatives most of the time when we get together. The Bible is a nice book. Families are nice places to disagree and still get back to loving.