a back up blog post

7/08/2010
Reunion

This weekend we will be going to the yearly reunion. I think this is the 33rd or 34th year. In all that time I missed 1 year. When we started my oldest siblings had toddlers and most of us were not married.
My mom is expecting about 130 for noon lunch on Saturday. This is the one time of the year that the family is together without weddings or graduations or other celebrations. My folks will be spending the night at a grandson's home instead of sleeping in a tent as they have done for so many years. He just built a new house 10 minutes from the state park.
There are many who cannot be there which is ok since this year we have had 3 high school graduations and 1 wedding with 4 more to go. Total possible = 2 parents + 9 kids + 9 spouses + 49 grand kids + 18 grandkids by marriage + 31 Great-grandchildren + 3 Fiances = 121 (Is my math right?) Then add numerous girl friends and boy friends easily 130 - although we already know there are at least 18 not coming.
But then we add in extended family. My Cousin Allen and his family + 12. (My mom's sister Shirley's oldest son) they adopted our family camping trip 13 years ago when they lost their parents -this was a good way to stay connected with family. Each year they come to spend the weekend with us and usually stay an additional few days with their immediate family. Their kids hail in from Oklahoma and other parts south - I figure they stay extra days to recover from the time spent with us !!!
This year there are 3 pinatas packed with candy. We always start youngest to oldest and end with the addition of those "old Kids" newbies who have never hit a pinata. And it usually takes quite a bit of coercion to get them to take a swing at the thing. These are usually fiances or friends who have never actually hit a pinata. I see this as a kind of right of passage. Mom or dad h0lding the baby and a bat for a swing and a picture. Toddlers swinging by themselves for the first time. And on up through the years until we reach the newest "adult" arrivals - the fiances and friends.
So tonight we will pack and we will leave in the morning for a wild weekend of family togetherness. And hopefully some down time to rest and regroup.