It began with a fifteen-year-old, working at the local Mercantile, and a young soldier home from the WWI battle front.
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It steadily grew to nine children and a grandchild … and my grandmother was just 36 years old when she reached that status.
My mom is at the far right.
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The siblings in reverse order of birth, starting in the lower left-hand corner: Roger, Barbara, Jerry, Ron. Back row: Sterling, Victor, Virginia (my mother), Bette, Bob, and their mama, Jennie Marie.
With Grandpa now gone, my grandmother got to see all of her children together in one place for the last time. Several would precede her in dying, which should never happen. But no dynasty knows when the end begins, so they go right on …
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A fraction of the progeny brought forth upon the earth by the Reese Siblings. We’re as fun, entertaining, intelligent, smart-mouthed, certifiable, damaged, and independent as any group you want to assemble. Seriously … don’t mess with us, especially in light of the fact that I didn’t even try to list all of our stellar qualities. Except for the old codger front row third from right, I’m the eldest of all the cousins, middle of the middle row. And I’m clinging to that status for as long as possible while we watch the never-ending arrival of new babies. Every once in a while, you start something you can’t finish …
Playing for Time 
Jul 27, 2015 @ 06:36:46
A treasure chest of memories encapsulated in photographs.
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Jul 23, 2015 @ 09:50:51
Well said,Judy….all of it ! Thanks once again for putting it down on “paper”.
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Jul 21, 2015 @ 16:33:02
I love this. Know quite a few of these people! Thanks.
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Jul 21, 2015 @ 20:20:24
Thank you, Rudy. I can’t help, sometimes, missing “the way it was.”
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Jul 21, 2015 @ 15:27:45
That would make for one heck of a family reunion!
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Jul 21, 2015 @ 20:29:42
When Grandma & Grandpa were hosting Christmas every year, before too many of the kids left for greener pastures, we could count on 35 to 40 around the table. And we had quite a few family reunions that gathered even greater numbers. Since Grandma died (past her 95th birthday), it’s been more of a challenge to get the family together. Maybe I’m working all of that out here …
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Jul 21, 2015 @ 21:03:26
Oh wow, I’m trying to picture the amount of food you’d need!
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Jul 21, 2015 @ 21:21:30
A lot. Everybody brought their “we have to have THAT” dishes, and there were always leftovers.
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