Considering all the great fortune, I am very lucky to have been born into my wonderful family. Dynamically different but united by blood and love, I find moments with any one of them, or a small group of them, or, miraculously, all of them, quite fantastic and satisfying.
While I was planning my upcoming year of 2015, I noticed that a couple of my nieces had asked me to attend special events with them. Jodi requested a ski trip; Lisa wanted me to participate in her 50 Years Old Bash (a speed triathlon); and Karen wondered about a trip to Disneyland in October with her and her son, my great-nephew, Connor. As I jotted down the possible dates, I paused, then said loud and clear, “I think I’m going to make 2015 the Year of Nieces!” Why would I only plan three activities with three nieces when I have so many more?
With a scramble on the keyboard I sent a message to each of them (nieces included) with a proposal: Let me know what you’d like to do this year and I’ll be there to cheer, engage, support and bond. Because of this, I have several days of crafts with one niece, two half marathons with two other nieces, a great exercise/fitness show at Physique! where my niece is employed and serves as lead instructor, a short fitness run and exhibition with her niece and her daughter, and a trip to Ogden, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. Of course, additional fun will arise during the year, but I have my initial outline worked out.
The Sundance Film Festival was completed with niece Julene this last weekend. Impressive and fantastic minimizes the joy of our time together. She flew in from her hometown and I drove from mine, picking her up at the airport. After lunch and shopping in downtown Salt Lake City, we headed north to Ogden. The College of Idaho, Julene’s alma mater, had organized a two-day festival for 30 of us. This included a grand hotel steps from the Egyptian Theater (a masterpiece of design), welcome reception, dinner, box tickets, appetizers and drinks, and heaven-sent desserts. The set-up was perfect, and the movies??? Incredible.
Our first movie was Stockholm, Pennsylvania written and directed by Nicole Beckwith. The acting, directing, filming and all the magic of the movie is amazing and the ending is one that no one would be suspicious of and it’s mind blowing. After the film, Mrs. Beckwith was present for a question and answer session. Her explanation of her writing, the screenplay, the overall planning, and her view of the mind and human relationships are extraordinary. I rank it in my Top 10 best movies ever. Rarely have I left a movie with so many quotes on my mind, chills down my spine, and intertwined thoughts.
the second movie, 71, it also provoked thought and wonder. It is a film that I now know requires a second viewing to capture all the intricacies that I missed during the first. I must also brush up on my knowledge of the struggle between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland in 1971. Yann Demange, director, and Gregory Burke, writer, have created a masterpiece.
And though it has bits and pieces and glimpses of our adventures, the essential ingredient of the weekend was some time together: aunt and niece; Niece and aunt. Our memories will shine forever. So I ask you to think about the family you love and cherish. Find ways to spend valuable one-on-one time with each of them, or as many as possible. The rewards will be substantial and the music of your heart will resonate forever. And as for the Year of the Nephews? That comes next!
