The memories are already settling comfortably into my psyche, filling spaces I hadn’t even known were empty. The shared experiences are what made my week at the lake (that would be Lake Michigan, the closest thing the Midwest has to a beach) in Saugatuck, Michigan with a dozen family members so special. Evening meals felt like Thanksgiving time and time again as we gathered at the end of each day to break bread together.
That evening meal inevitably segued into a night of board games, a walk into town for ice cream, plans for the next day; often all three as we found our rhythm and reconnected.
I rather like my grandparent status. I have my backseat driver’s license when I need to contribute my two cents, but mostly I simply enjoyed the ride. What’s not to like about spending time with five little ones who think I'm the best? It was heaven on earth.
Of course, put that many personalities together in one big house (are there ever enough bathrooms?) with all the baggage that comes with families and expectations, and a week can begin to feel like an eternity. It is what it is.
In that vein, I offer a few Venn diagrams to summarize our week of fun.