My Kreinbrink great-grandparents had eight children (over a 19-year period) who survived to grow to adulthood. One of them, my grandfather, had eleven children over a 22-year period. My father was born at year 20 and his younger brother at year 22.
We younger children grew up having first cousins who were as old as our parents because of that span of time. In childhood I knew all my aunts and uncles and all my first cousins (45 of them). Family reunions were large-scale affairs.
Fast forward to 2025. We still gather at a shelter in a northwest Ohio park, in the general area of our forebears’ homes. Our family moved to Kentucky 73 years ago, and the familiarity I once had is reduced to those near my own age. I regret that I don’t know more of the “first cousins once removed” now that I finally understand what that means.
I think of all of them every year when we read the gospel of Matthew with Jesus’ genealogy. All the “X begat Y’s” have more meaning now. I wonder how far back they knew their ancestors and how they managed to keep in touch. Today I know of several families who meet with siblings every month. They value their relatedness. They work to keep it current.
I confess I have skipped a number of reunions over the years. I think I’ll go again next year.
