Soup...

Sunday evenings at the family home people gather today, which is a tradition all over where she lives.  Since moving here many years ago, this has been the one constant in her life.  She hasn't gone every Sunday.  Life gets in the way, as it does.  Illness, other commitments, unscheduled events etc.  But of the soo many years she has lived her, been married and had children, Sunday Evenings have always been about family. 

Mostly it was to sit on the front gallery of the home or the back area, sipping whisky (the guys mainly).. beer or a soft drink and just chatting.  No eating, that big meal was consumed earlier in the day, so the need for anything later wasn't really there.  a few years back someone decided to start having food.  Not mass quantities, but small bites, dips and crackers, and things cooked in oil on an old coal pot over an open fire.  It was good and a good way to include more people.  a few years after that, someone said.."too much grease.. let's try a soup".. and the local soup bowl association was born.  Chicken, Steak, fish, exotic, traditional, soups, stews and stouwps are created, mainly by 2 of the brothers.  they sometimes on feed a handful and other times feed more than 20 people.   it's a labour of love.. so along with the whisky and rum drinks and beer and soft stuff , they drink soup.. and enjoy.. family.

The Missing Brother

They gathered from around the globe this year, at the old home place.  Families getting together, all in one place.  this hadn't happened in a while, she recalled.  All but one was there.  He had gone from them a few years back, only long enough to still be missed in a terrible heart wrenching way.  They all missed him.  All.  Tears in the eyes kind of missed.  He wasn't her brother, but might as well have been.  Even though he had lived thousands of miles away, he was there.  When he returned, which happened every few years or so, it was if he had never been away. 

On the day they laid him in the ground, they raised their glass in toast. It was in respect of him that they did this.  He would have wanted drinks rather than tears.. he got both.  Not all were there that day, the oldest missing.  But not this day.  She watched, as they all came from their cars, trucks, jeeps and made their way to the family plot.  "Hello father, Hello mother, Hello Brother"..  Greetings came easy.  They stood for a moment, still not believing that this was part of their here and now.  The youngest offered small plastic cups,  mainly to the brothers and sisters who gathered.  and proceeded to pour "a wee dram".    She watched as they raised their cups.. "to our brother", they said.  and the youngest took the bottle, The Brothers favourite drink, and poured a "wee dram" on the grave.  Drink up brother, this is for you..

She Stories: Christmas...

She Stories: Christmas...: "The tree is in the middle of the main room of the house. It's been up since early December, decorated in it's finery, but looking a li..."

Christmas...

The tree is in the middle of the main room of the house.  It's been up since early December, decorated in it's finery, but looking a little out of place in this tropical climate.  Maybe next year a large branch from one of her mile trees will be in it's place considering the cost.  She will get some of the "Pine Scented" spray to make the house smell better.  Presents are under the tree and she is very happy with herself, having wrapped all the gifts, including those that Santa will bring.  Usually she waits until about midnight on Christmas Eve, after all the stops etc, to wrap the gifts for her children.  But not this year.. too much to do, too many people coming around.

She is happy for the silence even though her young son is watching Television and can't seem to get herself up to do anything.. would rather just sit and do nothing.

Why doesn't it feel like Christmas?!?!  She really isn't sure. Others have also commented about it, but she guesses that maybe this time tomorrow, when the gifts have been opened and the last minute prep for lunch begins and the gathering of at least 30 people at the home place happens, the Christmas Feeling will be around.

She takes another sip of her coffee that her husband poured her at least an hour or more ago. It's gone cold but she really doesn't mind it.  It's the thought of having to get up and move around and get those last minute things to be done, done..    Onward, forward.. and Happy Christmas!!