Taking it with you

I come from a long line of pack-rats and was reminded of this on a trip to a family wedding in North Carolina last weekend. Since I was traveling with four other people (albeit in a somewhat roomy SUV), I tried to keep my stuff to a minimum. Sort of. Two smallish bags plus a tiny backpack for the road plus a pillow and um, my contributions to snacks for the trip and the hotel. That was pretty much the formula the girls followed. The boys just had one bag each plus pillow. But we brought FOOD and WINE. 

Load 1 ready to go down to the car.
Ta and da.

I felt like an especially efficient packer when my aunt and uncle pulled in with their fully loaded truck. I love how my aunt tries to bring as much of the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her no matter where she goes. She had buckets of flowers and herbs to decorate her room and several others. She had homemade bread and applesauce and veggies from her garden and gifts and goodies galore and just so much glorious, necessary STUFF.

Aunt Linda travels with buckets of flowers, her coffee press,
grinder, good coffee and many other comforts of home,
including family mementos.

Probably the coolest thing she had packed was a laminated sheet that contained a little card and a piece of embroidered fabric she'd found in her mother's (my grandmother's) belongings in 1993. That was the year my grandmother died. 

I suspect Aunt Linda packed this because family gatherings of this sort are times when we do a lot of reminiscing. And this was sure to spark some good conversation. But she always takes odd little items along on trips that connect her back to home and family. I do a little of that, but I have much to learn.

The photo is not the best quality, but I snapped it with my phone mainly so I could bring the timeless words on the little card home with me. Here they are:

The thought that we have only a little way to go together should make us very kind and considerate of those we love, and very patient and forebearing to those around us who are unreasonable and unlovable. 

Found in front of old Bible presented to Prentiss A. Shreve by his mother, January 11, 1901, 23rd birthday

Treasures Aunt Linda found in her mother's belongings
 - laminated for safe storage and transport. Prentiss was my
great grandfather.