Family Connections

While we are here in Detroit to see a young couple officially tie their lives together, there are other significant reunions playing out this weekend. Yesterday I was part of one and got to witness another.

100-year-old Aunt Zelda in Chicago has been an important part of the bride’s life. We determined to get her here for the wedding. Our daughter flew from San Francisco to Chicago to accompany her. We found a long-time friend of Zelda’s drive them both to Detroit.

The friend Bryna, is a 6’4” black woman who happens to be the daughter of a former Boston Celtics player. What a threesome as they rolled along I-94 with Zelda wearing Bryna’s orange sunglasses!

They finally rolled in around 6:30, tired but otherwise none the worse for their 5-hour road trip. Zelda walked in without even using her walker, just holding onto Bryna’s arm.

The reunion of Zelda with my mother-in-law (her deceased brother’s wife) was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. Neither of them could believe it was happening. Undoubtedly this will be the last time they will see each other before one of them dies.

They just sat there holding onto one another and smiling. Zelda can’t see. My mother-in-law can’t hear. But they have memorized every detail of one another over the past 75 years.


While their reunion was playing out, we had one of our own. Our beautiful daughter completed our family foursome. But there was still much work to be done before we could relax in one another’s company.

Zelda is staying in the assisted living facility with my mother-in-law. But we had to deal with the details of getting her meds dispensed, getting her settled in a strange room, showing her how to call an aid, etc.

I’m sure Zelda and Diane slept soundly last night and continued to dream about their visit and the wedding today. We will need to remind Diane of things like who we are and the fact that there is a wedding. But I don’t think she will forget who her long-time friend Zelda is.

Our immediate family of 4 will enjoy the next week together before our children head back to their distant cities.