A Norvell Note
April 29, 2024, Vol. 28 No. 17
Two Teaspoons
This year’s Mangum Family Reunion was different. I’m not sure exactly what it was, but something was different. Maybe it was the absence of some who could not attend. Or perhaps it was the lingering reminder that life is fragile and can change quickly.
Even though something was different, some things were the same.
The gratitude for our family heritage was the same. Floyd and Agnes Mangum lived simple lives and left a legacy of faith, love of family, and a desire to improve the world.
The joy of seeing one another was the same. If we are fortunate, most of us see each other once a year. Our time is precious, so we try to make the most of it.
The sharing of memories and stories was the same. We retold stories we told the last time we were together, and we’ll retell them again the next time. I hope. Some stories are humorous, some are incredibly sad, but all remind us that we are family.
The sadness of saying goodbye is always the same. Time is too short. The conversations would go on for days if we had days. Remembering those no longer with us brings tears of sorrow and appreciation.
We remind each other that God gave us the blessing of our family, which is the same. By His design, we are here and who we are, and we will make every effort possible to gather again next year.
Oh, the title? Hmmm. You had to be there.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2024 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved