Saturday, June 20, 2009

The Fitzgerald Family Celebrates

Saturday, June 13 as advertised, we all gathered at Andrea and Travis's home for our annual get together. All six of the children, five spouses, twelve grandchildren out of fourteen, nine of the grandchildren 's spouses, twenty of the twenty four great-grandchildren, and I ,the matriarch, attended. My great-nephew, Paul Durhea and his son Gavin and Gavin's mother Sandeena came from Cincinnati to join us.

We missed grand-daughter Shannon and her husband, Lenny along with their sons Nicholas and Daniel who are presently living in Japan. (they will be here for next year's bash) and Shannon's son Eric who lives in Owensboro and Grand-son Patrick and wife Kristy and son Alex who could not make it from Raleigh N.C. We missed them all and hope they'll make it next year because it is an awesome event! That totaled fifty-three members of the Fitzgerald Clan,and three members of the Charters Clan.

The Fitzgerald Clan Extraordinaire now has sixty-one members!

We had a fabulous time, lots of good food and drink and lots of wit and wisdom. The younger generation of cousins enjoy getting together with each other and join right in with the fun and laughter as if they had just parted company yesterday. For most of them, they only meet at family gatherings. One of the two year olds said, "I'm shy but I'm happy (to be here.)

We brought the films of the family trips to the beaches of North Carolina, the 60th wedding anniversary film of Doc and me, and a few thousand pictures of all that were taken over the last 66 years. Some nostalgic films and pictures from our lives that caused a lot of laughter and a few tears were enjoyed by most of us. The great -grandchildren really were amused by the films of their parents dancing and cavorting around when they were children. What fun we have had through the years. I love my big family and am so glad that we had them. Trials and tribulations along with all of the humor and loving that this talented group of people have ,I wouldn't have wanted to miss. We certainly fulfilled the following Irish Blessing:
" May there be a generation of children
On the children of your children."

"Slainthe is Saul Agat"

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