The time machine

You have probably already experienced a family reunion once. Not a reunion like The Family Dinner from the EO, but a cosy gathering with family members to catch up with each other again. We got to do that earlier this month with the cousins on my mother's side. The Amsterdam family, in other words. After eight years, so there was something to talk about.

Eight years ago, we couldn't be there. On the night following the reunion, Thijs was born. Although we weren't actually supposed to, we had brought Thijs along. Funny that the guy could already keep count during the quiz. Also good for his father's team, because they obviously won. The prize tells a lot about what kind of family we are: the winner gets to organise the next reunion. Among others, Peter, my youngest cousin, will do that with me. He is already eager to get started, so it won't take another eight years. Given the ageing I saw around me, it is also very wise not to wait so long.

The quiz devised by René, Joyce and Martijn took us way back in time. An Amsterdam family settles in Valkenburg and the third generation still recognises the differences with "the Limburgers". Maybe even the fourth generation still has something to do with it. Grandpa came from Diemen, grandma from Watergraafsmeer. With the latter Amsterdam neighbourhood, thoughts of Johan Cruijff come to mind. The Ajax stadium stood in this district. My grandfather seems to have trained there but chose the club he co-founded himself (in 1918), RKSV de Meer. RK stands for Roman Catholic. Quite extraordinary after all, in Amsterdam. The family's wanderings raise questions. From Amsterdam to The Hague, to Tegelen, to Valkenburg. A few moves within Valkenburg before ending up in Sibbe. And then many of the descendants fly out again, within the Netherlands, but also far beyond. 67 descendants in total, that is. With the answer to that quiz question, I was completely wrong.

Our children are only marginally interested in the stories from the time machine. That goes with the stage of life, that will come. One uncle put a lot of energy into searching the archives for the events surrounding my grandfather during World War II. Why had the Germans captured him? What role did he play in the resistance and the Jews hiding with the family? I couldn't take an interest in that at the time either. Only now do I understand his desire for answers to these questions.

We walked through Sibbe and visited our grandparents' grave, some characteristic places and the former home. This is where I myself lived for several years. My cousins knew that, but still they had questions about it. These in turn raised questions for myself. I won't bother my mother about it anymore. She never felt the need to sit in the time machine anyway.

I am proud of my family and hope my children take that pride with them. My sister still referred to the St Nicholas party we used to have at grandpa and grandma's, where we would all sit on the floor. That was the annual event where we were all together. Good children who were all good at school. They are still good, but they have all been through a lot. Nobody complaining, which suits us too.