Core Memories

Family traditions sometimes start from a family enjoying a serendipitous happening, and sometimes an event is planned to become a family tradition.

For example, Cheryl and I started using the “Red Plate” in 1980 when a friend gifted the “Red Plate” to us as we were preparing to return to West Africa. We still have that plate after a couple dozen moves, raising four children, and sixteen grandkids all getting the Red Plate on their birthdays and other special occasions. The special plate is red with white script around the edge of the plate that says, “You are special today.” Although the custom of honoring someone with a red plate started in early America, the Red Plate is made by Waechtersbach in Germany.

We did not plan to make The Red Plate a family tradition when our friend gave it to us, but we used it for a birthday, and started a tradition that has been going on in our family for 43 years.

Cheryl planned a family tradition when she made stockings for the four kids while we lived in West Africa. When she made these four huge stockings, she had no idea that she would have to make 26 of them. Plus, we would have to fill them up with goodies at Christmas time. Several years ago, when we started having grandkids, Cheryl also made very small stockings that matched the mammoth ones. When grandkids are in our home at Christmas time, she hangs their small stocking on the Christmas tree, and each day she puts a candy treat inside the stocking.

This family tradition was planned to become an annual event, and our kids and grandkids look forward every year to seeing what we have loaded in their stockings.

Yesterday, we carried on a family tradition that we started about 12 years ago. Twenty-two of our twenty-six family members gathered at Lake Winnepesaukah just south of Chattanooga. The popular name is Lake Winnie. It is a family-owned amusement park and water park that first opened in 1925. By 2023 amusement park/water park standards, it would probably be just an average park. But for our family it is a special place where we have made a barrel of memories.

The park allows you to bring in coolers and picnic food, and they have hundreds of covered picnic tables that are first come first served. Twenty of the twenty-two who were able to come were there waiting near the first of the line when they opened at 10 am.

We give all the grandkids some money just to spend on whatever they desire. Most of them invest in a funnel cake whether they split one or eat the “whole thang.” Some of them play the games trying to win the biggest prize, but mostly we go home with small stuffed animals or Hawaiian leis. However, Allison became so astute at one game that she won the large stuffed unicorn prize three times. Of course, dipping dots, frozen lemonade, sno-cones and Icees are very popular with our family. Pete bought some sunshades, and I think he just wanted to be like his Papa who has to wear sunglasses most of the time because of his eye problem.

Madelyn is working in New Orleans this summer and staying in Abbey’s home. She did not want to miss the Lake Winnie experience, so she flew to Georgia on Friday, spent Saturday with us at Lake Winnie, and flew back to New Orleans today. Hands down the grandchild who talks the most about Lake Winnie year-round is Libby. By the way, her family has a dog named Winnie.

Last night after getting home, the kids were completely worn out and everyone had to take a shower, and it was a busy time around our house. Cheryl and I were in the bedroom trying to stay out of the way as Will and Allison prepared the kids for bed. In a moment of lull amidst all the activity, Allison came into our bedroom and said thanks for the great day. She said something that I will never forget. She said that this experience at Lake Winnie was one of those “core memories” for her children.

Let’s make some more “core memories” for our families.