It is getting close to the time where I get to head back home to “The County” where I grew up. We will be having a family reunion this year and I am excited to see our scattered family once again.
As you all know, I have a huge family on my mom’s side. They decided it was time to all get together once again because it has been so long. You will never get it to where everyone will be able to meet all at once so you do your best and set a date and hope that all will try to find the time and come home.
I have been gone from Maine for more than 27 years. I have been home several times, but as of late, I haven’t been so much. My immediate family is not there anymore. We all live down south, some in Tennessee, others in Georgia. We try to get together once or twice a year but with life so busy, and being ten hours away, it is hard. A ten-hour drive isn’t a weekend trip.
As the days get closer I have been getting in touch with several cousins to see if they are going to make it to the reunion. We were all very close growing up. It would be great to have us all in one place for just a bit.
Some of my cousins are coming but a lot just can’t take the time to come. When you live in another state, it is hard and very expensive for a plane ticket to get home. These things definitely need to be planned ahead. I am so excited to see the family members that can make the trip.
As I was getting caught up with a few of my cousins, they were telling me what was going on in their lives. I haven’t seen some in more than 15 years.
When we were talking, it was brought up that one of my cousins and her sister hadn’t talked in more than two years. She went on to say that it was even over petty things.
Why people? Why? Why must we fight and get upset over meaningless things?
Life is short. I told my cousin that life was too short to hold grudges. Well, she said that is was all her fault and she had to make the first move to make it right. This is called the Clark (my family) stubbornness. I know every family has it.
I can tell you my mom’s side of the family is very set in their ways most of the time and will not give in for anything. It makes me laugh a lot.
Sadly, I notice the stubborness in me from time to time. My husband never says anything unless I ask him, “Do I act like that?” He will say, “Yup,” from time to time. He is very right. I just look at him with a grin and say I am working on that.
I am stubborn for sure. Sometimes, you have to swallow your pride and be the first one to give in. I have had to do that from time to time. Life is not worth holding a grudge.
You never know when you or their last breath will be. Have no regrets. Live life to the fullest and love often.
I bet there are some of you out there that have been in a feud for years and really can’t remember what made you mad. Make yourself a promise that this year you are going to mend some broken fences and make peace with the ones you love.
I know you still love them. You just haven’t done enough soul searching to realize it yet.
Easy Crawfish Alfredo
Ingredients
1 celery stalk
1/2 yellow onion
1/2 green bell pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound crawfish tails
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
2 teaspoons flour
2 1/2 cups half and half
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup shredded Romano cheese
2 tablespoons Liquid crab boil
onion and garlic powder to taste
Cajun spices
1 pound pasta your choice
chopped green onions garnish
Instructions
Finely chop veggies
Melt butter and saute veggie
Add garlic
Sprinkle in flour and spices
Stir well until flour dissolves into the butter
Add in half and half
Simmer until it starts to thicken; do not bring to a boil
Add in cheese
Season crawfish with cajun spices and liquid crab boil
Add crawfish to the sauce
Taste and adjust seasoning
Serve over pasta
Garnish and enjoy!!
Tina Specht is co-publisher of the Minden Press-Herald. She shares her thoughts and recipes each Thursday.