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Published: June 16th 2008
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My family told me that I looked like a cross between a gypsy, a hippie, and an emo kid. But I really just liked how this turned out. My uncle printed out my Grandmother's family's geneaology this year and brought it for us to look at. Over twelve generations were in it! Spanning back to the 1300s at least, I think. And I found out -- I'm British and Swedish descent! And summer has officially begun.
With a most welcome vacation. The past three weeks have been incredibly dull, being basically filled with a desperate search to find a full-time job (or at least a few part-time positions - either way, money is money right now). Every year my father and I go to my Grandmother's family reunion in the Georgian countryside on Father's Day weekend. It's been held the same set of three days for the past forty years now. The crowd has thinned in the years as I've grown up but it is still an event I enjoy immensely. I like being able to see how the area around Towns, McRae, and Hazelhurst continue to change through the years. Stores and restaurants that were once alive and thriving when I was a child have long since closed, been replaced with new locations that will shut their doors as well. New houses stand beside ones that are now falling apart, with paved roads lying close to ones that are dirt and gravel. It shows progress, but at the same time it shows a lack of progress and how nothing ever really changes in the South.
One exciting thing about
Kekkonshiki no Uta ~Kisetsu Hazure no Wedding March~
The outfit I'll make for Sora's wedding reception while we sing. I get to play the role of the "Wedding singer", while my friend April will dress up like "Groom" Miyavi. I'm not entirely sure why she wants us to do this.. but as her maid of honor I will do my best to make her day "special", haha ;D And I'll enjoy making it! this year was that my Uncle printed off my Grandmother's family's geneaology, and had it in a thick book for people to read. It was organized really nicely, and it showed that he put a lot of time and work into things. He said it took him nearly six years of visiting court houses and searching online databases and encyclopedias to come up with it all! If I remember correctly, the first entry was for the 1300s.. and I finally found out what country my ancestors come from. Can't claim that I'm a mutt anymore ;P
But it really was a fun trip. We drove eight hours from Raleigh, North Carolina down into the Southern part of Georgia to a town called Towns. It used to be a bigger little town, but by now.. well, the only real citizen is my Grandma's brother, my Great-Uncle Columbus. Seeing him is actually the real purpose for why I went along this year, other than the fact that I wanted to spend some time with my father. On his birthday in a few months he'll be turning ninety-three years old - and yet, here he is still mowing lawns and driving up
Savannah River, Georgia
Taken from the top of the Savannah River bridge and down the roads at all hours. If I could ever have half of his energy when I reach that age then I consider myself lucky. I really do admire him a lot. The other news I received at the reunion was a bit sobering and heartbreaking, mostly about close relatives and things that happened while I was away. Sometimes I really wish I could do something more than say "I'm here for you", you know? It makes me hate how inaccessible things really are in America..
I used this time as well to introduce the idea of Sweden to my immediate family. I think they took it pretty well.. My father's sisters at least did. They've always been supportive of me and the decisions I make, as well as my father. They all really liked the pictures and stories I had about Kansai Gaidai, told me how they wanted to pinch everyone's cheeks and that I should invite anyone that I can to come for a visit next year. Which would really be lovely.. I definitely need to start planning something of the sort, you think? Not in America necessarily, but some place we could all go together
Towns, Georgia
All that remains of Towns, Georgia. My Great-Grandtather's house, built around 100 years ago. Lovingly called "The Old Place" by everyone and just enjoy ourselves. A beach? Back to Japan? Some random country none of us live in? The distance that being away from Kansai Gaidai the school has put between us all makes me miss everyone all the more. It's a bit distressing to even think that we were together for so long, only to have communication abruptly end the way it has for me and several people.. Mm, I hope it will change. "Owari" ja nai desu! xP
But everything that has happened recently has made me wonder what my Grandmother would think of it all. My Grandfather as well.. Living by the morals they taught me has really put an impact on my life, and made their opinions and lessons learned always count the most to me. I always try to imagine what they might say. Natsukashii, natsukashii, ne?
Rest of June and July will be planning Sora's wedding cake, which has become.. wedding cupcakes? And I still need to make that Miyavi outfit. I also plan to be in touch with my friends Quill and Aurora from Kansai Gaidai at the end of the month to do some sight-seeing, so I can guarantee pictures from
that 😊 Until then!
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Vincent
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You have ancestors in Sweden?! Cool. Then you are coming home =)