Family Memories Include How ‘Horrible’ the Kids Were, Especially Polly

Family gatherings always result in remembering 'the good ole days.' Tad & I went home for my grandfather's memorial service and the entire clan got together, and it's a big clan. You can't even get them to look at the camera at the same time for a good picture. You can count on two things though, alcohol and stories. Those stories usually revolve around all the trouble we got into as kids.

My aunt Heather recalled how 'horrible' a child I was. The more she drank, the more she reminded everyone. "You were a horrible child. Just horrible," she'd say to no one in particular. I can't disagree. I was a horrible child.

Then came the memories from the cottage, when we'd all spend the weekend at the lake together. My cousin remembered all the times the kids would hear grandpa yell down, "you kids better not be using that yellow canoe. That's Heather's," or "get out of that water. Can't you see the storm coming." Usually the yell was "what are you kids doing now."

Those memories will live on with all of us even though my grandparents and the cottage are gone.

What family memories do you cherish?

MORE: Polly Says Goodbye to Her Grandfather Who Passed Away