Three Cheers for Family Adventures
That’s me second from left in 1992.
I’ve just returned from a family reunion, and aging is on my mind. My father’s side of the family has gathered every couple of years since 1990, when I had just finished my first year of college. Now my youngest son has just finished his first year of college, and my oldest son just started his first post-college career-style job.
One of the prized possessions I brought home from this reunion is a photo book from my grandmother’s 95th birthday party. (Thank you, Aunt Gail!) Grandma was a spunky lady, and there is a substantial level of spunkiness on display when her descendants and her brothers’ descendants get together!
Growing old gracefully is lovely, but I think we have more in common with the Cheer Queens. They’re the cheerleading squad at the Cedarhurst of Tesson Heights senior living complex, and it just so happens they were featured in our little neighborhood newspaper this week. Their founder was inspired by the Heritage Hotties, who cheer in Pennsylvania.
I’ve seen other examples too. The Sizzlin’ Seniors, a 55+ group who perform regularly at the NBA’s Denver Nuggets games. The Golden Oldies of the NBA’s Miami Heat (completed with the most fun individual photos I’ve seen in a hot minute!). And they’re not all limited to seniors. The Wine and Goldies of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers are open to anyone age 18 and over.
My family doesn’t have the cheerleader vibe. We’re more the “7-mile hike at the crack of dawn” type of adventurers. (Props to my 81-year-old mom for her hike last week!) And we go for the “17 hours with three generations in a car for three days of togetherness in the boondocks with no cell service” type of family connections. (Props to the Johnsons for surviving that drive both ways with a toddler!) I have a feeling a couple of us are nurturing secret wishes to make it to age 90 so we can equal our Great-Aunt Rita’s feat of zip-lining across the Colorado River.
The cheer squads aren’t related by blood, but in the interviews, they often describe themselves as “family” or “community.” The bonds we build together by putting ourselves out there don’t require a lifelong acquaintanceship. Just ask any of the in-laws who’ve been welcomed into our clan via a spirited round of reverse charades, followed by a toast of my cousin’s homemade moonshine. The NBA squads probably seem like a walk in the park by comparison!