Family stars

A week ago, we went to the first major family reunion of my wife's ancestors on her Dad's side. One of her cousins has traced the genealogy back to 1687 and has chronicled all the births, marriages, and deaths of every descendent right to our latest granddaughter born June 28 this year. In total there are more than 10,000 descendents of Christian and Anna Myer of Saugerties, Ulster, New York, listed in the 200 page document.

I think in every family, there are a variety of personalities and issues that often impact its cohesiveness. For some, they become a stumbling block, but for others, they are a unifying factor. Lois's Dad and his cousin Barbara, played together as children, but as they grew older and their own families grew, they seldom saw each other. Now well into their eighties, they are the last of their generation and were able to sit under the stars and talk about all the "remember whens."

I have about fifteen cousins, but I probably could only find one if I looked hard enough. It's very special to see our grandchildren get together as cousins now, and I can't help but wonder if they will be the "family stars" at another family reunion eighty years from now.