That’s me in July 1968 (age 5) in my first and only appearance as a flower girl. My grandmother made my dress. Pale yellow dotted swiss with a yellow satin ribbon. with white patent leather shoes, gloves, and even a bow for my hair.
The bride was my dad’s first cousin Becky (that makes her my first cousin once removed; she’s the youngest daughter of my grandmother’s youngest sister… these details are important for small-town Southern families). She married George, her high school sweetheart, shortly after he graduated from the University of Alabama. Becky’s older sister Kay was her matron of honor.
The wedding took place in my dad’s (and Becky’s and George’s) hometown church (those stained glass windows are stunning, aren’t they?)
Fast forward a dozen or so years and I was in Atlanta, attending Georgia Tech. Becky and George and their two little boys lived here. I remember she came down to campus a few times to pick me up for a lunch/shopping date. No photos…but I’ll bet we both looked 35 years younger than we do now!
Fast forward another 35(ish) years and Becky and George still live in Atlanta, and so do their sons, and a daughter-in-law & granddaughter. And of course now I’m here with my husband, a daughter & son-in-law & a grandson, a sister and her family and a brother and his family. At my parents’ urging, I arranged a lunch (no shopping!) for us to re-connect. The five of us enjoyed a three hour lunch on Tuesday…and had a ball. I can’t wait to see them again – and introduce them to the rest of my family! I think we’re going to have some very good times.
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| Becky, me and George |
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| my mom, Becky and me |
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| George and my dad |
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| my dad and mom and me |
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| all of us |
I’m not much for regrets (35 years??!!), so I can only trust that the timing was finally just right. Becky and George have re-done the family home in that Southern small town and made it comfortable and welcoming for guests (even, George assures me, little dogs!) I’m hoping to visit this fall. I would love to have some good adult memories to add to the ones I made as a child – and I would love for my family to make some too!
mere-et-filles 
very cool!
I got a bit lost in some of the small town Southern family details, but those are wonderful photos, both then and now. I don't even know if my grandmother had a sister, let alone know about her children, but I feel like I might be missing something by not knowing all these interesting family connections.
How wonderful to reconnect with your cousins! I'm so grateful for the cousins I have, too.
Meeting up with family is an enriching experience. How fun for your whole family. It bring everyone closer together to bring in extended family who have been "lost" to be found. I had a very similar flower girl dress although mine had a black ribbon.
Wonderful for you all!
Awwww, so cute! Love that you had a wonderful lunch and plenty of photos. I sense a road trip in the making!
So much fun! I'm sure you'll keep this going, even if it's annually or so. Family rocks.
I'm packing for a girl cousins' week in Boston!! I have a bunch of cousins, but there will be three of us on this trip…talking, knitting, touring, talking, drinking wine, talking, relaxing, talking…well, you get it.
What a wonderful memory you've captured and thanks for sharing. Do enjoy making the new memories with your 'long lost' cousins. Loved you in that yellow dress…my fav color!Cheers~
What a wonderful experience for all of you! (And I have to say . . . 5-year-old Mary looks an awfully lot like Mary-NOW . . . ) XO
Oh, what wonderful photos! Everyone looks like they're having such a great time together. Here's to more of that!! 😉