This afternoon was the family gathering for the local Marks family. Romaine drove in from Allendale, about an hour away. Everyone else lives close by. Pam and Jim came, bringing lots of grilled chicken and potatoes to roast and baked beans and a strawberry-cherry fruit concoction. Pam put the chicken (which was already cooked) on the grill and reheated it, brushing it with barbecue sauce. Their daughters Megan and Kerah came along. Jacob had to work.
Shellie made a Mexican layered dip with chips. She had red, white, and blue bunting strung around the outside of the cottage, making a festive mood. We brought bread and rolls and veggies and fruit.
When we got there, Pat’s girlfriend Jeanne was there with her son Grayson and Pat’s daughter Chelsea. Brittany and Phlea came along later (it was hard to keep track because of the girls’ work schedules). Pat was in a golf tournament and arrived much later, after everyone had eaten, except Jeanne who waited for him. Mike didn’t make it to the party.
The girls spent most of their time sunbathing out on the dock. Grayson joined the neighbors, who had a speed boat and a tube, for a ride on the lake.
After dinner, the watermelon supplied by Romaine was cut and passed around. Pam brought out her dreamsickle dessert, made with vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet, which everyone loved.
Ken and Gordon and Shellie showed their Kindles to Romaine, who was very attracted by how easy it was to read the larger font sizes available. We sat out on the lawn and watched the boats and people on the lake. A couple of sailboats, lots of pontoon boats and speed boats, and some personal watercraft and kayaks crisscrossed the lake. We watched the Purple Martins coming and going from their high rise apartments Gordon put out to attract them.
Inside, it was fun to sit at the dining table and watch the hummingbirds at the feeder outside the window. They had to battle with the bees to get the nectar. We sat around the table and shared stories and memories.
On our morning walk we stopped at the cottage and picked up our prescriptions, which we had had shipped there. We nearly forgot them, and Shellie hadn’t been out to the mailbox for a couple of days, so it’s good we managed to collect them. Then I got Shellie to tell me about all her siblings and their kids. I haven’t been able to keep track of everyone. Gordon and Jan had six kids:
Kathy (b. 1951) lives in D.C. with her partner for many years, Jim Klimaski. Kathy has a couple of degrees, including a law degree, and she works for AARP as executive VP of a division (Shellie couldn’t remember which one). Jim has his own law firm.
Pam (b. 1952) is married to Jim Fitzsimmons. She has two children from a previous marriage, Jacob and Megan Luurs. Pam and Jim have a daughter, Karah. Pam works for Lightcorps assembling lights. Jim is a chef but currently out of work.
Linda (1953) is married to Ron Shafer and lives in Newport, NC. She works for the Marine Corps in a civilian position related to GPS.
Shellie (1955) lives with her partner, Gary Kittel in Houston. He has grown children from a previous marriage. He works for the TSA. Jan had a lot of trouble in her pregnancy with Shellie, who was born six weeks preemie. Shellie has an Etsy shop and is a crafter.
She has been taking care of Gordon more or less since last fall, with some help from her brother, Mike, who is also not working. They are taking turns right now staying with Gordon in the cottage for two weeks and staying at the house in town for two weeks.
Mike (1958) used to be a bartender but is currently unemployed and living in the Roosevelt Park house in Muskegon. He takes turns with Shellie staying with their dad since his surgeries and stroke.
Pat (1961) lives with his partner, Jeanne Weathers. Pat has a son, Patrick, and two daughters, Chelsea and Brittany. Jeanne has a daughter Phlea and a son Grayson. Pat is a machinist and works for K & L Industries. Patrick works for another division of the same company.
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