Family

Shelbyville, Indiana

One of the highlights of this trip is all the family we’ve gotten to see along the way. We’ve been looking forward to seeing this branch of Ben’s family for a few years now. Ben used to spend summers as a kid with Linda’s parents in Indiana. Luckily, Lisa got to meet his grandparents while they were still alive. They were both hard-working, open-minded, and lovely and will always be fondly thought of and missed. Riding through Indiana to get to their house we were reminded that these areas are all surrounded by corn… corn, flatlands, and tornados. We rode through little towns that Ben recognized as ones he used to visit when he was a kid with his grandfather while he worked. Although Bill and Mazelle have both recently passed on, the rest of the family is alive and well. Ben’s aunts and uncle and their kids and ten grandkids are all the sweetest and we had a most relaxing and entertaining time with them. The oneness and community of family is strongly felt here. It reminds us a lot of families in the South Pacific and the intimacy they feel with each other. It was such a blessing to spend time with these guys, although not nearly enough. Alan and Mary, if you read this, we love and miss you and hope to see you very very soon. Good luck with ‘the Woods’.