Strong women

Family reunions — a learning experience. It is most interesting to watch the human interpersonal dynamics. There is something about “family” that enables one to let your guard down knowing that you will be accepted for who you really are. Join in, give and take, just enjoy the experience and look forward to meeting again next time. It may be a year, skip a year or meet again in five years, no matter, the bonds of family are elastic and will always be there.

Yes this week Grannie Annie and your columnist drove to Kearney to join in the annual Trail Family Reunion. Now then understand that there were few individuals named Trail actually present. Most participating had descended from female progenitors who in their youth were Trail but last names changed when married.

The patriarch (or is that more properly Matriarch?) of the clan is one Stella born a Trail and cousin to most of the rest attending. Many times removed in my case but we trace back to a common ancestor a Trail couple living and working at the Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) when John Brown raided the place to touch off the Civil War back in 1859. Stella, a fellow writer, keeps us all together — a labor of love on her part.

I was greatly intrigued to just sit back and watch my distant cousins in action. The movers and shakers were a set of four sisters: Virginia, Karol, Charlene and Beth. Mature adult women in the prime of life. They have kept their bodies in great shape and dress neatly. The four grew up together along with a close cousin Rita, in the Kansas City area born to a mother with the maiden name of Trail. Brother Jerry also, and brother Gene didn’t make the party. You know how sisters are, a major goal in life is to steer a brother on a straight path and they did well with a lady they all approve of chosen as Jerry’s life partner. Other girl cousins were also present but the core group were the four plus one that all grew up together. Family has meaning!

Strong women in action. They support each other, the leader decides and all the sisters make it happen. Husbands? Each one has one and all the original issue. The men have been successful in life in their own right and why not with a strong woman backing them. Children, most adult and married, grandchildren and a few great grands. In and out of the building, catching a snack off the table, playing in the water park running, laughing just having an energetic good time.

Food — oh mercy. Pulled pork, pulled turkey, pulled beef all moist, hot and fresh with buns and BBQ sauces to compliment. Chips and dips. Fresh vegetables with dips to match. Salsa. And salads of every description — might have been a sister contest involved to make the best. Strong women. Homemade bread and fresh home cooked jelly — too good. Prepared raw vegetables fresh from home gardens, corn on the cob. How in the world do those ladies stay slim, trim, and good lookin’?

When it was time to leave the park, all pitched in to stack tables, chairs and clean the place. Then they gathered the food and moved to a sister’s nearby spacious and welcoming home to continue the celebration and visit. Note: during the whole day and evening to follow I heard not one disparaging word. All conversation was spiked with laughter words of good will and encouragement. Me thinks that is how the Good Lord wants us all to live.

Our Christian Bible speaks of and touts the man’s role as head of the family. Great in theory but the Bible is also replete with strong women. Deborah a leader in battle and government stands out as one of my heroes. Mary mother of Jesus raised and nurtured Him then touched off his ministry at a wedding. Most children, male and female, then and now, are led to faith teaching at their mother’s knee. Strong women shape the family and men just think that they are in charge. That is the way it worked in this old columnist’s history and our family is the better for strong women’s influence.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail