Traditions

Recently, I was thumbing through a Monticello catalog and ran across a Cypher Decoder.  This instrument is a reproduction of a the one Jefferson designed and used as Secretary of State for President George Washington.  For a moment, I thought about buying it.  I could see it being used when grandchildren came for visits or summer stays.  I could visualize a vacation house by a private lake.  Children running in and out, laughter filling the air, and the sun reflected on the water created shimmering memories. Children creating messages, parents and grandparents joining in the fun.  Late in the evening, notes left, that when deciphered, said "Stories by the Fire" or "S'Mores on the Porch."

Then I was jolted back to reality by the ringing of the phone.  There are a couple of problems with my day dream.  I don't own a vacation home on a private or public lake.  And more worrisome than that, I don't have grandchildren.  Of my two sons, only one is married, and there are no children yet.

But it did start me thinking about those folks who have traditions they follow.  I am not speaking of those holiday traditions we all have and celebrate. I mean those in summer or fall or spring.  Camping trips, vacations to the same area year after year to name a few.

When I was growing up, my family never had a vacation.  We never left home for any length of time.  The relatives went places like Grandfather's Mountain, or the Rhododendron Festival on Roan Mountain, some went to Gatlinburg, or Cujo's Cave.  But my family didn't.  We had no traditions to speak of other than trips to Big Creek to wade, or have a cook out for us and my grandma.

You see my grandma had Alzheimer's and she lived with us so going anywhere as  a family was out of the question.  We were home and that was it. I never felt as though I had missed anything.  You can't miss what you have never had.  

So when I married, I tried to establish traditions for my husband and me, some worked some didn't.
When the boys were born, once again I tried to set up some traditions for them.  We did the camping in the back yard, picnics by the fireplace in winter.  We always had home made pizza on Halloween.  Again, some stuck, some didn't.  But I think if my sons were asked they would say they liked the traditions we established although they may seem meager to some.

I hope when we do have grand children my husband and I can create memories for them to share when they are adults. I would like nothing more than knowing my grandchildren thought coming to our home was fun and that they felt excitement about coming to visit the "old folks."  That is if we ever have grandchildren!