I took the day yesterday and hung out with two of my first cousins, Sheila and Peggy. You know, you just forget sometimes how fun it is to have some girl time, especially with girls you have known all your life.

We met up in Bardstown, Kentucky because the Mudd families have been living in Bardstown, Springfield, and Fredericksburg areas for generations. I remember as a young girl riding in the back our family station wagon to Bardstown, Ky. to visit aunts and uncles and all their kids. That was considered a big trip from Louisville back in the 60’s and 70’s. I always had fun with my cousins, girls and boys. So many great memories; swimming in the ponds on hot summer days, building forts out of old pieces of wood, walking to the local grocery store with empty glass coke bottles and getting 3 cents a bottle and then we would buy some candy! :O)

Sheila, Peggy, and I ate lunch together and as we were leaving the restaurant another cousin was walking in, Diane! So that is the four of us in the picture above: Sheila, Joan, Diane , and Peggy. After giving Diane a hug the three of us went out and did a little consignment shopping together. Nothing like finding a great deal!

We talked about a family reunion for fall of 2025. I am going to try and organize it and these gals will help me. My mom came from a family of eight so we have over fifty cousins to contact. We are leaning towards a day reunion, probably in Bardstown, hoping that will be a more central location for most of us. Sheila called me last night and she had talked to my oldest cousin Barbara on the phone. She said Barbara is very excited and really wants us to pursue the family gathering. She told Sheila, “It’s very important”.

I think Barbara is right. Family is important. I like to think my mom and her brothers and sister would be very pleased that all of us are going to make an effort to spend some time together. I can’t believe so much time has passed and now my cousins and I are planning the reunion. That job used to belong to my mom and her siblings. Time moves on.

Peggy has been retired a few years and has taken the time to research the genealogies on both sides of her family. She was telling me about the Mudd side, talking about our family tree back to our great, great grandparents. It really is fascinating. The more days I spend on this beautiful planet the more I think about my ancestors, who they were, how they lived. I really appreciate them. I would love to talk with them so I could hear first hand what life was like when they were walking Mother Earth. Who did they love? How was school? What clothes did they wear? Did they read? Were they healthy? What kind of jobs were available? Did they have big dreams? Were they happy? What kind of struggles did they have?

I think I could go on and on. Guess the best I can do is take some of these questions with me to the reunion and get to know the people in my family who are here now. I’ll have some fun making more great memories. :O)

c   Love, Joan