My grandmother and my mother had a firm belief that every family must travel to our local park, known as Memorial Park, and have a family picnic on Memorial Day, regardless of weather.
Here we are on a freezing cold Memorial Day 1983. Left to right - a very pregnant (with my fourth child) Miss Merry, my mom in her blue coat, my dad clutching a cold beverage while bracing himself against the wind, my grandmother setting the table her way and my poor husband assisting her.
Your family had it's rituals, I see. But freezing picnics were probably right at the limit!
ReplyDeleteHa! Good memories!
ReplyDeleteOh now that is a memory! I love it! We never did anything for the big Holidays.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this pic, thanks for sharing it Miss Merry. Talk about upholding tradition. :^)
ReplyDeleteAhh memories. We always went camping at Ponca State Park in Nebraska for Memorial weekend with all of my mom-in-law siblings and their kids. Sometimes we would have over 100 people in the group camping area. People came from Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and California. Some years it was absolutely freezing, one year we even had snow. Other it rained the entire weekend and then Monday was bright sunshine when we had to check out by 11:00 am. Other years it was blazing hot. You never know in the midwest! But lots of great memories were made that live on in our minds.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs,
Betsy
Cold weather would deter me. On the other hand, it would also deter the flies and mosquitoes!
ReplyDeleteI miss Memorial Day traditions. I have to admit picnics no matter the weather is a different one. But it makes sense because once you skip a year, then it's easier to find excuses in the years after.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's me---my Deep South envy of all those flags-flapping in the sunshine, happy families reminiscing and clearing the graves of long-departed kin and soldiers, with a picnic amongst the daffodils, and at least ONE big basket of berry pies with stars in the crust. Anything New England or up toward you---that was so All American to me, and I could always conjure maybe a young Lincoln speaking to the gathering. It's 60 and sunny here, and yesterday was GORGEOUS for the race.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to ring our big bell 250 peals on the Fourth, just like we did 200 in 1976.
No picnics here this year. Graduation Parties have taken over the weekend so you can go from place to place if you know lots of kids!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad our Memorial Days in Arizona are generally very Warm, I do don't well in the Cold. But, I'm sure even a chilly Celebration that was captured thru the Eye of the Lens, brings back Memories... and that's why we take the Photos and Cherish them.
ReplyDeleteYour grandma and mother stuck to the rituals, bringing the rest of you along!
ReplyDeleteAs a child we really did not have any traditions like so many other folks have. There were not any Memorial Day or 4th of July cook outs where the family visited friends or neighbors like everyone does these days. It was usually just another day with us.
ReplyDeleteWe had lots of family and feasts for Memorial Day and lots of talk about those who came before us…nice memories. Your picnic photo is very similar to many of mine. Best to you and yours,
ReplyDeleteVirginia