A Family Week-end Brings Stories To Write

We're celebrating the three day Labor Day week-end by having a family gathering here at our house. Our son, Kirk, and his family will come from Dallas to Manhattan, Kansas where we live and our kids grew up. Our daughter, Karen, and family will journey from Louisburg, Kansas, a short distance south of Kansas City.

We are all going to the K-State football game vs UCLA tomorrow, and on Sunday we'll take up two pews at the late church service, then off to brunch at our country club. Late that afternoon, one of Ken's brothers, his wife and daughter will arrive. They'll have dinner with us and then stay at a hotel overnight. Our inn will be too full to accommodate three more overnight. But they'll be able to have some family time with us and to help us celebrate Ken's upcoming birthday.

I've ordered  a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, decorated with white and a bit of purple for K-State. On top, it will say Happy 75th Birthday Poppy. The grandkids can help blow out the candles with Poppy.

I'm looking forward to having us all together, which only happens once or twice a year. As the grandchildren get older, it's going to be even harder to find a time for everyone to come. I know that and I understand, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

I'm sure to get ideas for some stories to write with all that will be going on these next few days. Our tailgate party at the stadium would be a subject for one, four-year-old Cole attending his first college football game, another. There could be a story about the joy of having an entire family worship together, and one about the birthday celebration. Yet another might highlight the reason Ken's brother and family are stopping here on their way from Chicago to Denver. Daughter, Kim, is moving to Denver after having lived her entire life in the Chicago suburbs. A promotion with her company is making this change in her life.

All writers have to do is look around, and they can find a story. The hard part is finding (taking) time to sit down and write it.