Cheerleaders

A simple black and white picture was given to me years ago.  Captured in the hazy photo are a handsome man, his glowing wife and four smiling children, all standing in front of a classic VW van. The moment it was in my hands, I knew this photo had to find a place to hang in my home but, it couldn't be alone. That 4x6 picture could only be the first.

Now there are many frames surrounding that first, gray-toned picture. Some frames hold images of people I have never met but familiar features are frequently repeated. The Rees nose, the Larrabee eyebrows, the Rugg ears and the olive complexion of the Herradors all smile back at me from those photographs.  

My three children all have names that belonged to someone else before they belonged to them.  My oldest son is proud to share his dad's name. My only daughter loves telling her friends that she and I also have a name in common.  But my second son has felt gypped when it comes to his middle name.  

"Mom, who am I named after?"

After carefully hanging a faded colored picture on the nail I had just hammered into place, I excitedly called Ethan to my side. I placed my hand on his shoulder and pointed up at the smiling man.

"Ethan, this is Dale Porter Rees. He's your great-great grandpa."

"Porter? His middle name is Porter too?"

His dark brown eyes were full of a mixture of emotions as he looked into the face of his namesake. What was he feeling? Admiration? Camaraderie? Relief, maybe? 

This family gallery wall has been a work in progress for a long time and it may not be finished for a long time still but recently I hung the latest picture on that wall.  I took a step back and as I looked into the faces of my family I felt more connected to my roots than I ever had before.  I felt surrounded by a huge group of cheerleaders.  A group of cheerleaders that are standing in my family's corner reminding us that we are tied together in a common purpose by roots that keep us firmly planted in our heritage and branches stretching out above to remind us of the hope of the future.