Our almost 16 year old daughter, Catherine, wrote this for her English class. The assignment, “Where I’m From,” was to describe yourself in terms of events of your life — mostly small things — that have shaped who you are. I just loved her version of her upbringing and our family. Though it is hard to catch all the images she uses without the backstories, you can catch the drift.
But what it really made me see, besides the beauty of her literary artistry, is the kaleidoscopic complexity of influences that color who we are, as well as the power of the past to shape our vision of the future. The power of relationships. The power of family. The power of faith. And the power of memory.
My grandfather wrote Patti and me a letter after our first son was born, and said, “Among the greatest gifts you can give your children are good memories. The memories you give them will stand as a reserve of wealth to draw on later in life. Hope in hardship, cheer in sorrow … Memories that they were loved will carry them far. Waste your time on them now, and they will ‘want not’ then. While you may often regret not having made enough time for them when they were small, you will never regret having given them too much time. Nor will they.”
The power of love. Hope.
My wife said to me the other day while we were having a cocktail out on a weekend evening, “My hope is that our children can look back as adults and see in the midst of all the mistakes we made along the way, ours was a home full of God’s love. And that they always write thank you notes and never go to someone’s house empty handed.”
Yeah, that.
Neal Obstat Theological Opining 
Oh, Catherine! This is so rich! Thank you for allowing your dad to share it here. It really is marvellous all these bits and pieces that get stitched together by God to form us into the person He dreams for us to be. Thank you for this gift!
J
🙂 She will be delighted with this comment! She is a gift from Him! Thank you
OK, so how did I not know that Pat cared for Gary Cooper? 🙂 Patti — You should have no worries about your children knowing that they grew up in a house of love. As for the thank you notes and the visiting with a bread and butter gift, i think you’ll be all right there, too. Love you and miss you all. Lobbying for a trip to NOLA this summer, so keep your fingers crossed.
:)) COME! COME! We would love to have you with us this summer. SO FUN!. Love from all the Neals and Easter blessings
Catherine is almost 16. Oh my! And she takes after father with her writing — so beautiful — very deep, makes you think. Love the allusion to a blue butterfly.
From a family where the children are now all grown, I can assure you the memories you have made along the way are so very, very important. The reminiscing and the laughter and the stories that are gone over and over whenever we are together is beautiful. We did work and sacrifice while they were growing up to go on trips and things mainly because they were memory builders. It is all worth it.
Love the Neal family!
Love 2 the Jordinis!! You all, so special to me, so faithful, such a witness of Catholic family life. The real deal. LAUGHTER! Your family is filled with laughter. God bless you all these holy days. Thank you for writing. Yes, so proud of Catherine’s love of writing.
Brother Tom,
You are richly blessed indeed to be able to enjoy the talent your children exhibit in their singing, writing, and many other things I’m sure you and Patti “hold within your heart!” You and I have previously shared the depths of love for our families and the indescribable joy with which we are inundated when our children allow Mom and Dad an occasional peak into their souls. When they present us with their Holy Spirit-inspired works, our smiles and depths of pride are boundless. It shows—always. It IS the intimate and infinite fertilizer they need from us to “go forth and multiply” the produce of that talent. When we as parents, having nudged our children to step out of their comfort zones, watch them do it despite potential adverse consequences therefrom, and succeed, I can only comment, “You had to have been there!” There are no other words to describe what Catherine’s stunningly beautiful pallet of words did to me as I recognized her age. My guess is that your own reaction(s) were similar. (To say the least).
Picturing you and Patti—but most especially you, Dad—reading it, the song, “I Can Only Imagine” came to mind. For, watching my own children captivated by the awesome talent exhibited by their kids doing similar things Mom and I encouraged ours to do, takes us out to the levee on a warmish spring day. There, while sharing a glass of red wine, we watch the boats go by, the pelicans forage, feel the warm-cool breeze waft over and through us, and smile to and with each other in His countless blessings: “God is so good, isn’t He?”
“Inside the attic,
Hidden in the deep bucket of endless loose photos
I am from endless dreams and aspirations yet to be
Discovered”
Catherine, thanks so much for that. I’ll let you in on a not-so-little secret: I’m 72 years old, and I must tell you, “You made my day!” What happens to so many of my peers is that they forget the truth of what you have so poignantly and beautifully captured in your ending phase. Even for my bride and me, there are, indeed, “…endless dreams and aspirations yet to be discovered.” I learn that lesson every day. My bride and I are ecstatic to see folks at your age come to know that (our own children and now, theirs–and you). May you always and forever keep that magnificent thought in everything you touch in your life.
Brother Tom and your beloved Patti, thank you for allowing/encouraging Catherine to share her talent. God’s blessings on you all. Today begins the Triduum. May you be awash in the blessings of Jesus as you participate in the most glorious liturgy of the year. I’ll be thinking of and praying for you guys. Best to Maria and Ashley, too. When’s their next “gig”?
DD
PS. Sadly, we moved away from the levee in 2001. So the part of the levee included above is a “been there, done that” kinda fond memory. Now, we just go right out back on our patio and enjoy everything, minus the boats. An occasional pelican makes it this far inland; but that usually signals hurricane; so me no like to see pelicans flyin’ over my house!!!! Have fun, guys; cuz God really IS good!
Catherine is brilliant! I’m so glad you shared this Dr. Neal. Making memories is so vital to passing on traditions. Our adult children remind us quite often of stories and trips that are still meaningful to them. God bless your family in this Holy season of Easter.
THANK YOU!!!! That means so much, Jeff!!
Dr Tom, thank you and Catherine for sharing. I’ve lived in the UK for over 33 years, yet the poetry sent me right back to Wisconsin. Some of C’s memories are mine too but each of us has a unique history and story to tell. Hers is very special.
I remember a previous post, some time ago, when you shared that Catherine would follow you out of the house in the morning to wave goodbye so you would have this loving memory from your rear-view mirror to help you through the day. I thought then, and see now, what a remarkable young lady she is – who comes from a remarkable family.
Thanks again for sharing, LP
Wow. That means so much to me, LP. That you remembered that post, that was so hugely special to me. God love you and bless you