November 18, 2009

• It Was the Best of Times…

   

   

  Indeed it was. How could it not be, the entire Barkman family together for almost a full week?

  In a word, it was delightful.

  Destination: Myrtle Beach, SC
  Who: The Ervin J. Barkman family
  Place: condo by the sea (well, by the ocean, but “by the sea” sounds better)
  Time: October 31 – Nov. 5
  Weather: perfect. warm during the day. cool for morning walks.

  There are no words to describe how much I love my family.  I adore them.

  There have been several deaths in the extended family within the past few years. I think that makes my family treasure each other all the more. Last Christmas when my immediate family was together, we spent a few moments of sad reflection on a relative who had passed not long before. Things like that are always shocking. So unfair. It could have been me.

  So we remember that, and know that it one day it will be one of us that’s missing from the family circle.

  That’s not morbid. That’s reality.

   And it helps us embrace the moments we have together with all of our hearts. To live with no regrets, because it will not always be this way. Painfully though, I know because of the closeness we share, that will make the parting so much harder. But in that way, the pain is really a gift…

  But today – to LIVE,
                             to ENJOY,
                                       and not take life or one another for granted.

  Showing affection today, because it may be our last chance.

   

  And on to happier things.

   

  The six siblings. They are just so great!
  How come the oldest sister is the littlest of them all??

  

  And the family picture was wait to be publicized. Mother wants it to be a surprise.
  Therefore, sadly, I have no presentable pictures of mother to be shown (I’m going by her judgment, not mine ).

  I adore this man too.

  

  We even got to go out on a date to Starbucks one morning! Without children. Those times are rare.

  

  After making fun of Claudia’s aviators all week, we got him to try them on. Then snuck a picture. Ha. He looks like he’s straight from the 80′s!!

  

  Zoe received a lot of attention. So much so, in fact, that Aunt Claudia declared her spoiled (that’s another way of saying she wasn’t always super well behaved). Whoops.

  

  

  

  

  And little Olivia was loved on too. She’s too little to be spoiled. Plus, she was born one day after Claudia’s birthday, which means she can do no wrong. )

  

  

  

  

  

  This is a “celebrity shot” of Claudia.

  

  Books for the ladies.

  

  Smile. They’re really aren’t desperate. At all.

  

  Bocci ball for the men. It is much too boring to simply lie on a beach towel on the sand.

  

  Fishing. One very cold day. Fished all night and caught no fishes… Well, not all night. But no fishes.

  

  These two are really too much.

  

  Or make that three.

  

   

  

  Got to wear Ervina’s super cool green shoes. How I love them. I hope they know I have a birthday coming up soon.

  

  The last day, THEE last, we discovered an ANTHROPOLOGY store. Why, oh, why did we not know before? We spent a precious hour in there. I left without one purchase. There were simply too many wonderful things, I couldn’t decide where to spend my last remaining dollars. So I kept them.

  Just to prove we were there.

  

  They had these super cool rings in the clearance department. Marked down to $20 from $60?? But oh my goodness, they were huge!! A little overkill, maybe?

  

  Sisters. Everyone should have at least one.

  

  Or make that three. They are beauty personified.

  

   

  There was a Worst of Times too. It was at the end. Saying goodbye.

   

   

  • 5:04 pm
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