Family....

The "farewell" parties have begun.  And while this weekend was a total bust as far as preparing for my move, it was a completely wonderful weekend for memories, love, laughter and being with the people who have meant the most to me in my years here in southern Pennsylvania.

Saturday I was with friends who are more like family.  Yesterday I was with family who are all my friends, as well.

I know that I have explained my move to Alaska was to be closer to family.  And, indeed, my son Rob and his wife, Kate, live in Fairbanks.  So what family am I leaving behind?

My late husband (Charles Rudewick) was from Hazelton/Freeland, PA.  He had moved to this area with his first wife.  His sister, Marcy (Rudewick) Boylan, was living just outside of Philadelphia with her husband, Al Boylan.  They had 5 children... Allan Boylan, Sharon (Boylan) Walters, Albert Boylan, Sharon (Boylan) Wallace and Ed Boylan.  

When Rudy was alive, we spent many a holiday, birthday, wedding, and weekend with Marcy and Al and the 'kids'.  Al and Marcy camped during the same time that Rudy and I camped, and there were times when we camped together.  By the time I joined the family, the 'kids' were getting out on their own, getting married or graduating from high school.  Lots of reasons to celebrate.

Sharon has moved to Oklahoma, so we do not get to see her as often as we would like.  The other 'kids' have remained in the area.  It has been fun to watch them grow into wonderful adults, most are married now and with families of their own.

Marcy died in 2006.  Rudy died in 2011 and Al died in 2016.  The 'kids'  have been busy tending to their own careers and families and activities.  But I have always been included on Easter dinners, Thanksgiving dinners, Graduation celebrations (even though I could not attend all of those) and helping me out when I needed assistance after my husband died.  So, even though I was not a blood relative, I never felt as though I was alone in this area.

Yesterday was no different.  Nancy, who seems to have replaced her mother as the organizer of family get-togethers, invited the local family members to gather at their house in Middletown, DE for a swim party and cookout so they could say farewell to their "crazy aunt" who is moving to Alaska.

It rained for the initial time, so Allan's grandchildren and nephews who had come to the party were having to fill in time watching TV and playing board games until the rain stopped.  The rest of us sat around the dining table and talked and shared stories and laughed.  There were a couple of stories that came out yesterday that others had not heard before.  (Trust me kids, what was said at Nancy's, stays at Nancy's.)  I will truly miss seeing them and watching their lives unfold.

I am hoping that one or more of them will make the trip to Alaska to visit me.  And I also hope that they will follow me, here on my blog.  And I hope that they might call from time to time just to catch up on things and say "hi".  They may not be family by 'blood' but they are friends from the heart.

Steven Wallace, enjoying dessert, Ed Boylan, Nancy Wallace and Jeff Wallace.

Albert Boylan, Nicole Boylan and Lisa Boylan

Nancy Wallace, Allan Boylan , Jeff Wallace and Steven Wallace in the background, looking for ice cream toppings.

Steven is enjoying his ice cream.  He is a recent high school graduate and begins college at Pittsburgh Technical College in October.  He is majoring in Business with an emphasis on Accounting.  His mother says he is really good with numbers.  Wishing Steven well in his new chapter of life.

So, on with moving prep.  I will be having feted at a community meal at church this coming Sunday and the 27th, I will meet with the old HR department ladies from Jefferson Bank for the last of the farewell events.

They days are moving fast and I still fell that I am not ready for this to happen.  No firm packing and moving dates, but the pressure is on!!!