7 Generations.

Although I would never trade in my childhood experiences of exploring the globe with my parents, one thing I did envy growing up was being close to family. Being in the mission field since I was a year and a half, visiting family in the Philippines was always a reenactment of the initial stages of a 2^nd grade love affair: “Hi, my name is________________. My favorite color is ___________ and my favorite food is ____________.”

As a little girl, I always dreamed about spending summers at grandma’s house, frolicking by the meadows, listening to grandpa’s stories, and, of course, sneaking cookies from the cookie jar whom, I might add, had it coming to her (C’mon, you have to agree that if you position yourself boldly on the kitchen counter, you are asking to be eaten, with or without permission). Of course these ideas were not necessarily realistic fantasies, but rather, stolen from all the “American” movies my sister and I loved to watch and interpret through our own dramatizations and plays.

After spending my first Thanksgiving with Darrin’s family in 2006, I realized that I could vicariously live out my dream through the Thurber family. It was fascinating being part of interactions that lacked the anxiety of awkward situations and that flowed with the ease that comes from spending more than a couple of weeks with each other every two years. I loved hearing the countless stories of vacations spent together and could almost picture Darrin running around Mimi and Papa’s home as a chubby little ninja turtle.

Now fast forward to this past Thanksgiving. Darrin and I had driven down to Tennessee for a big Thurber reunion. Not only were we celebrating Thanksgiving with the Thurber clan but also celebrating Papa’s 80^th birthday. And of course, talking about Minky (the now shortened nickname of lil’ Kumingking). Because we refused to spoil the surprise of Minky’s name, Minky conversations were saturated with “Bertha”, “Olga”, “Julia”, and a myriad of other names as the family attempted to guess Minky’s correct name. As I enjoyed all the eating (it is never a Thurber experience without food!) and company, I realized that I was no longer vicariously living through the relationships of Darrin and his family. I was part of the family and could finally have my meadow frolics, grandpa stories, and cookies stolen from the cookie jar (I admit, I made sure that I snuck one or two cookies and boy did it feel good!).

One evening while the family was lounging around, Papa called a family meeting (how cool is that! An actual family meeting:]). As we gathered around the living room, Papa began to tell us a little bit more of the Thurber history. I was so mesmerized by the richness of his knowledge on Thurber heritage that I did not catch Papa’s transition to talking about me, that is, until I felt all eyes curiously smiling in my direction. Papa had been going on about a special rocking chair that had been in his family for six generations (It had been his great grandmother’s rocking chair) and he had always been perplexed as to whom to pass it on to since its small size did not complement any Thurber trait. Well, thankfully, Darrin married a 4ft 11in. Filipina gal’ who was perfect for that chair! With that, Papa smiled his beautiful big smile and told me that he was happy to finally find a home for the chair. Excitedly, this brown-eyed-no-curly-locks-but-straight-black-hair Goldilocks tried her new chair and exclaimed, “It’s just the right size– my feet even touch the floor!”

This special rocking chair, draped with beautiful blankets made with love by Minky’s grandmother and great-grandmother, now sits snugly by the corner next to Minky’s crib. I know we will share many special moments in that chair and one day, I will be able to pass this beautiful piece of Thurber heritage to Minky – the 7^th generation!

A couple of nights ago, I was practicing my rocking skills when I realized that this rocking chair is more than a valuable heirloom. It’s a symbol of the involvement, love, value, and strength, of our family. It’s the summers of frolicking meadows, the Papa stories, and stolen cookies that Minky WILL experience with her Nona and Papa, Lolo and Lola, Tita, and Aunties. Well, at least whatever the g-parents and Minky have in mind for the summers :)