October 8, 2022 – Swift Current, Saskatchewan
The descendants of the Wells Family met in Swift Current this weekend to reaffirm the bond we share as a family.
This generation of Wells siblings are no longer with us but the commitment they made to building and preserving our family was evident in the 80-some descendants in attendance.
I am very privileged to be among what is now the oldest living generation of the Wells family.
One of the highlights of the reunion was an auction of items donated by family members. Many were family heirlooms, including a very old saddle owned and ridden by Uncle Frank, a book with Robert Wells’ signature in it, and a pipe ashtray also used by Grandpa Bob. I was determined to own a piece of family history, but I don’t smoke a pipe and I don’t own a horse, so the only item that appealed was the book.
Robert Wells, with Patricia, Brad and Kevin Paton – 1963
The book itself has no particular significance. It is an index of general history published in 1898, but Grandpa Bob had written his name in pencil on the front page.
Bidding started at $50 and quickly escalated to $150. At one point I noticed that I was bidding against Cynthia, a younger second cousin. I felt guilty competing with her but then another bidder on the far side of the room joined in. I bid him up to $180 and Dan’s auction hammer dropped.
As I walked to the back of the hall to collect the book I passed Cynthia and apologized for bidding against her.
Cynthia’s reply was my keystone moment of the reunion. Without hesitation or malice she said:
“That’s Okay, it will come around again”.
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