Children have various rights of passage, and this weekend, the boys and some of their cousins experienced another one. The Hill. Just on the other side of the pots and down a little ways is a steep hill. Apparently this is something Sweetie and his cousins loved to climb down and play in the bottoms, splash in the creek and come back to the chowder covered in dirt and mud. Some of the boys carve their initials in the trees on the bottom. According to some of the grandparents they too, slid down the hill and created their own memories of the hill. All smiled when they shared their stories with me, and boy, did their eyes sparkle! I sense mischief!
Sweetie and the boys charged down the hill laughing the whole way! They came back all dusty and dirty, but now they shared a memory with their dad as he showed them where he played as a child. While the boys were off being boys, I sat and listened to stories being shared about various experiences in the past at the chowders.
Lastly, the boys got hugged so much this weekend, they just didn't know what to do with themselves! Family is a blessing, the stories shared, memories made, and a bond that grows from generation to generation. One day when the boys have families of their own, I hope they take their kids down THE HILL.
