Owensboro, Kentucky
When my mom would return from visiting her family in Kentucky, she would bring home mutton and burgoo – a traditional thick Kentucky stew cooked on a kettle for hours. It was like a little Christmas when she would open her bags and all those of the ten kids at home would share a little bowl of this mystical stew.
Our “Kentucky Cousins” are often talked about like that mystical place that you only get to visit on special occasions, like Disneyland. We talk about the numbers, “my mom has 10 brothers and no sisters, and we have 48 first cousins on her side.”. Even though all these cousins don’t all live in Owensboro, Kentucky, – it seemed liked they all did when we would visit every five or ten years.
Stopping to visit has been on our itinerary since the beginning and a cousin gladly welcomed us in. Others threw us a party on the same day as the Kentucky Derby – which is like a religious holiday here, so we felt very special. Whereas there was no burgoo shared, the fried chicken and all the sweets made it feel like home.
Even though it has been seven years since my last visit, it always feels like you never left. We reacquaint ourselves with new grandkids and a few great grandkids, get caught up on the latest stories, and celebrate being part of such a large and getting larger family (it was prom night, so a few had to leave early – one had to teach their son how to tie their tie).
We each put our dollar into a small pool for the Derby and the place goes silent as “My Old Kentucky Home” plays and the horses get ready. Then they are off! The previously quiet crowd erupts as everyone starts shouting for their horse. My cousin’s oldest adult daughter triumphantly pumps her first as her horse wins. We become kids again.
We finish off the final desserts, take home all that leftover food that will keep us all fed for the next week, and say our goodbyes – not knowing when the next time will be. My aunt, one of the last remaining from the ‘first’ generation (same as my parents), did the grace before the meal and as we leave provides the appropriate benediction as she smiles and hugs and kisses us, “I’m so glad we still get the family together, thank you for coming – and it wasn’t even a funeral!”
Siri and David Adventures 