There's corn growing between the cracks on my aunt's back patio.
When we asked her about it, she said "I don't know. It just grew there."
It was one of many conversation points and things that made us laugh out loud at our annual Fourth of July camping weekend.
Sometimes life is really random.
Corn grows between the cracks.
Things that have been missing for years turn up under the pool deck.
We find out we're related to a friend that we've known forever.
But often that randomness finds a way to make sense.
We've been camping together for at least 15 years now, mostly on holiday weekends these days, but back in the day, we traveled to campgrounds all over Wisconsin.
A collection of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, siblings, close friends, various dogs and random kids picked up along the way form our motley crew.
This year's weekend included the following activities:
Stunt-riding bicycles off a ramp into my aunt's pond.
Trick jumps off the same ramp while trying to catch a football in mid-air.
Bag tournaments where one game I was on point and the next so very not.
A manmade whirlpool in the swimming pool.
Life lessons passed down to our soon-to-be college students.
And a whole lot of battling against the mosquitoes (who ended up getting the best of us).
Oh, and too many smiles, laughs, and hugs than I can count.
I'm late this week writing my blog. Usually it's a Sunday morning ritual for me.
But yesterday I chose to sleep in a bit later than usual and just enjoy the day with my family and the special people around me.
Thanks to my readers for understanding.
The randomness of life, like corn growing where you least expect it, can make me shake my head sometimes.
But these weekends, with these people, no matter how many random things seem to happen, aren't really random at all.
We were meant to be family.
To gather and appreciate each other, to laugh, and love and once in awhile argue and get loud. It's all part of the deal.
Usually we camp Labor Day weekend too, but this year, two of our boys are headed off to college. And we'll be moving them in.
The generations keep growing, and moving on. Hopefully these boys will be back with us next summer and we'll get to hear all about their adventures.
And maybe...just maybe...there'll be some fresh sweet corn that we harvested off the patio to share with them.
Happy Independence Day friends! Love you all!
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