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Family reunions…the summertime gathering that fill a child's
heart with joy?? My Heim Family Reunions were a challenge like no
other I was faced with as a child. I was the last of six, by the
nearly last of seven, by the last of who knows! (A large and prolific
group). I leaned very quickly that there were good things and bad
things about reunions - especially for the littlest and most obviously
carefree cute "Heimette: within arms reach.
I don't remember anyone over the age of my oldest brother…everyone
was taller than him and all looked alike and they all treated me
the same. They would wobble by, grab me, squeeze me, pinch my cheek,
(I swear to this day that's why I have flabby, rotund cheeks) and
say, "You must be Ted and Dorothy's baby, you look just like
them. Ohhhh! What a cute face….(pinch, tug, pull again!) Why,
I remember when your Mom….." Then they'd skitter on and
I'd get lost to find my most favorite of all cousins, Herky! (Obviously
a nickname). Herky was a prize; I worshiped him because he could
get into more trouble than me. (An interesting form of hero worship,
huh?) I'd wander among the legs until I'd find him and off I'd go….trailing
him to find some entertainment. Neither of us lacked imagination
and we both enjoyed mischief my mother's word.
One year we found a great climbing tree with a neat hanging ball
that made a buzzing noise, Herky called it a beehive. He said if
we knock it down with a stick and quck run to a car they'd go away
and we could climb the tree. I was pretty impressed. We never did
get to climb that tree…the car window was open, so was the
next car's window, and the next…..!
Speaking of next…another year we found a little creek…it
had a cool, squishy, muddy bottom. Herky said if I sat down and
sunked my head and opened my eyes in the water I could see fish
and little bugs. I didn't see any, all I saw was mud. It got in
my eye.
Yet another year, we found a barn with lots of hay and a rope
for a swing. Herky said we could grab the rope and swing over the
hay and jump in it. That sounded awfully nifty. He went first….I
never did get my turn. Herky had to go to the doctor to get his
arm fixed….it broke. After that Mom and Dad got smart - I had
a much harder time getting lost and finding Herky!
What bitter sweet memories I have about those days! Maybe I don't
quite remember them the way they were. Still, I was very anxious
when my teenage daughter was about to go to the same Heim Family
Reunion…..with out me. I gave her instructions to be good as
she left with her grandpa, while I waited 300 miles away wondering
when she'd call, what she'd think and more importantly what she'd
say.
"Mom?, That family reunion was a bore….everyone looked
alike. I didn't know who anyone was, and they'd come up and grab
me and pinch my cheek. Then, they'd tell me how much I looked like
you. They'd start with these stories….you know…the I remember
when your mother….!" Then she laughed! "By the way,
Mom…..who is Herky?"
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