A Defining Moment in Time

A Defining Moment in Time



Is this picture a defining moment in time?



Will this be the last picture taken of the whole Family together?


This picture was taken on the birthday of my brother Jim who turned 60 in 2008. This was the first time all of us brothers and sisters were together in thirty two years . The last time was at Dads funeral in 1976.


I recall in 1960 in Osborne Kansas, when Grandma Alflen passed away. As a little background, Grandma was one of the best Christian ladies I have ever met. I recall each night she would read her bible and kneel at the bed and pray with tears running down her face for her children to find the lord. She was such a sweet lady that went to church 3 times a week and showed all around her of the love she had for her family. I was 16 years old and remember that she became very ill and was in the hospital. Mom and I sat with her one evening in an unconscious state and breathing very slowing. We would tell her to take another breath. She passed that night and this was a big wake up call for my Granddad Alflen. All of the children were contacted and came from all over the country. This was the only time they were all together since they were living at home with Granddad and Grandma. The day of the funeral, Granddads brother arranged for a photo to be taken of the entire family. I believe that they knew that this would be the last time they would be all together. To me this was a defining moment in time.

I recall later when I was visiting Granddad he asked me to come over to the door over looking the greenhouse. He said "look at all this that I have created the greenhouse and the farm will all disappear when I die." You see there was no one from the family to take over his business. I will never forget that day and how he knew it would happen. At the time when he passed in 1963, I was in a body cast recuperating from a bad accident and unable to take on such a big job. They dozed the greenhouse down and it is still bare land where it was. To me this was a defining moment in time.

As a family we used to get together from time to time but after Dad passed in 1976 it seems like we can't seem to get all of us together at the same time. We gather in groups here and there but not all of us at once. Its like Dad was the center of our family and after he left us, we lost that drive to get together. Since I am the oldest, I have tried many times to arrange reunions for us all to meet but it seems like one or more of us can't make it. I cherish the time we can spend together, visiting and talking about the good old days. The time spent together is a big part of the family love we have for each other. So when Dad passed on, this was a defining moment in time.

So here is the big question, What is the next defining moment in time?