Whenever my mom's side of the family got together, we were told to "shoo away". They were the important people, but we children were kicked under the bus. We ran up hill and then down. It was exhausting, but there was a lot of food, which we consumed en mass.
Their faces and voices still linger in my mind. I noticed them, but realized that we were the thieves of their time together. "Shoo shoo" was their way of telling us that they were in their own history, telling the stories of their own lives.
So, we raced, climbed, teased each other all on a Labor Day weekend. Where? Pere Marquette Illinois State Park, near Alton, Godfrey Illinois.
The voices and laughter still ring in my head. Only one of the adults is around but not functioning. Only a few of our racing kids are still alive.
Good times, good memories. Sigh.
Note: After one strenuous climb, I ran to the ice tub and pulled out a cream soda. I drank it down in two gulps. Then I threw it up. Still can't stand cream soda.
