Family Reunions

Wow, what a wonderful two weeks. This summer my family had our 20th (21st? - who's counting?) family reunion. We have them about once every four years, so ours have been going on since 1933. The family story (from my cousin Patsy) states that my Grandfather and Grandmother and four kids were traveling out one 4th of July holiday to a picnic at other relatives farms. There was an auto accident and my aunt, who must have been four or five years old, broke her arm. Grandma said that from that point on she would not travel on July 4th and everyone could meet at her farm for the festivities. And so, our family reunions were born. We don't do them every year though. Off years are for in-laws families and individual families to establish traditions of their own.

This years reunion was fantastic. The planning was terrific and the venue worked out great. This year we had a total of 37 families attend. There were at least four families missing. Some cousins live in Europe and could not attend and some have young families and gas prices were pretty high this summer. But the rest of us got together and had a great time.

We got together to talk, reminisce and to make rope for the younger members. I believe every member of our family has (or should have) a piece of rope made at our reunions. During the years on the farm in North Dakota, there was always a need for rope. Sometimes it was difficult to travel to the hardware store for supplies so Grandpa bought a rope machine. Rope making is a collaborative effort and we have a lot of fun when we make rope. I remember when I was a kid there was alway beer around. Sometimes the beer mugs are just set on the grass to free the hands for ropemaking. (Sorry Uncle Don). Sometimes beer got spilled by little nephews. But we always had fun. This year was no different. I saw my cousins setting up the rope machines for their kids, grand kids, and nieces and nephews. Traditions get passed on. This, to me, was the best part of the reunion. The traditions, the re-connections, the rope-making, the talent show, the breakfasts, the dinners.

A hearty thank you to my cousins, Mary and Michelle. You, and all of your helpers, did a great job.