Part of Something... Even from a Distance

Dear Jack,

Every single time I get these men together, I make them take this picture. I wish so much that I had the same picture for myself... one of my mother, Mema, great grandmother and myself. So much of who I am comes from those women... because of, in spite of, blessedly due to. You will be the same way I am sure. So I always try to get this picture for you so that you can have that feeling of ancestry, of belonging. This is four generations of Nolen men right here, son, and you are part of that line. Isn't that amazing?

Besides getting to see your Grandpa and Nana Nolen and Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Nolen, you also got to see some of your aunts and cousins.

We went to the zoo with Aunt Serita and her kids. You and her Lily are only three days apart, did you know that? Of course, at this age, it means you ignored each other completely, but some day that might be a cool little factoid for you.

Mostly, though, you enjoyed your grandmas. Nana would read to you and sit and play with you over and over and over again. When Great-Grandma arrived, Nana let Great-Grandma have her turn, but it was the same games that you and Nana had played all over again.

Even at the store, you and Nana were playing. It was so neat to see you, who have been so stranger-shy lately, warm up so quickly to someone you haven't seen in almost nine months.

I love it when your Grandpa and Nana come to visit. You and your sister love them so much and they spend their entire visit doing pretty much anything you want to do, which is so neat for me to watch.

Some days, I think about Georgetown and how beautiful it is and how glad I am to live here with you and your dad and sister. But some days I feel a little like an island... a family of four alone in the world with everyone else so spread out away from us. So I love it when we see other family members and I get to see that for you at least, these long weekends are enough to get the feeling of an extended family that loves you and is a part of you, even if they live far away.

Love,
Mom