Did the family reunion thing today. It was my mother's siblings and their kids and a bunch of grandkids. I spent a little time talking to my cousin Paula's son Jon. Jon is now 19 and has just finished up his first year in college. I don't think I've seen Jon for a few years and my sharpest memories of him are from when he was about six and was dancing to old McDonald on the TV. Today I was a looking at a young man, but at the same time I was superimposing the six year old child.

One of the nice things about middle age is that sense of vision informed by time. I can look at the river near my mother's house and see where a small grass island has emerged from what was once unobstructed running water. I can look at a parking lot and see the barn that was there when I was a child. I can look at my daughter and see the toddler, who at three already had many of the same personality traits that I still notice. I can look at my now matronly cousin Paula and see the beautiful young woman I remember from many years ago, and see that same beautiful woman reflected in her beautiful teenage children.