Each year the Jones clan, of which I am a member by virtue of my sweetie being the eldest of 5 Jones sisters, gathers for a post-Christmas Christmas, usually in the Ozarks of central Missouri. They are individually remarkable people -- Paul the Methodist theologian turned Trappist monk and prolific author; the twins Suzanne and Elise, both environmental leaders and now becoming political leaders in addition; Wendy, a bilingual educator who emerged from recent cancer treatment with a sense of equanimity and gratitude for life; Amy, a gifted calligrapher and artist who also has a pretty sharp left brain too; and of course Katherine, a photojournalist, columnist and printmaker. Then there's the nephews and significant others, like Karl the rocket scientist. A pretty diverse lot, but what they share in common is a focus on living intentionally, something that is reinforced at these annual gatherings through family rituals and ceremonies. This group portrait was made at the end of the last gathering.
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