June 25th, 2009 | 
Author: *warning: there is a reasonably likely chance that this post will be edited and deleted. Some of the people in my extended family get freaked out when I mention them on my blog.*
I had lots of fun seeing my family in Nebraska a couple of weeks ago. It’s neat to see where everyone is and what everyone is doing in their lives. Some of them I remembered from family reunions past, and others I didn’t.
It is interesting to learn the “soap opera” stories of my family. I admit that I was often asking my mother to explain the whos and whats of some of the stories- people in my family who were divorced, who are dealing with ex-boy/girlfriends or ex-spouses, spouses and kids who died, tragic accidents that affected people physically. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I enjoy genealogy- everyone has a story, and it’s fascinating to see how they all weave together.
My great-aunt, who for years was the organizer of these reunions, now has Alzheimers. It is really sad, especially because she is (was?) the person who knew all the family stories and who understood how everything wound together. She is still very pleasant to be with, though. As I told my mother, she may not have known who we were but she was still good company! Even if she didn’t understand something, she was very good at “smiling and nodding”. She also did manage to tell a few stories over one meal about living in sod house, growing up in Nebraska, and living with her (late) parents.
**edited as predicted.**
I am also really glad that I got to visit Pioneer Village in Minden, NE. That is just a fascinating museum, and the story behind it is at least as fascinating. I know people tend to think that Nebraska is a boring place, and in a way I suppose it is. But there is just so much to learn about the history of the pioneers who settled that unforgiving territory.
update: Relatives mentioned in this post, if you have a problem with it, please just email me, melinda at melindamusil dot com, and I will remove it. You don’t need to make this a big issue or try to use this to divide our family. (and yes, I am referring to the LAST time you attempted to use my websites to divide our family.)
Posted in Uncategorized, friends and family | Tags: melinda at melindamusil dot com, Minden, Nebraska
Melinda-
Please remove the blog post entitled “Reflection on the Family Reunion”
It hurts me deeply to read what you have written in this blog post; so much so that I am physically shaking. Please know that I love you as a cousin, but I feel as though you have “judged” other members of our family.
I find it to be the BEST job in the world to be a stay at home mom. There is no better joy or fulfillment than being there for your children when they are young.
May I just say, what you have written is grossly untrue, hurtful and down right mean. Why would you say such things? This is your family! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but its just wrong to broadcast your ignorant opinions on your blog- an open corridor to the world- especially when they are so fictional and slanderous.
Matthew 7:1-3 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
Matthew 22:37-39 “ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Please Melinda, consider the hurt and pain you have caused. Please remove this blog post, and please do the right thing here. If we are not to judge and to love our neighbor’s as ourselves, how much more are we supposed to love our own families?
Heidi