The family reunion

I'm getting ready to go to the family reunion.

I think I've told you about my family already. I've gotten a bunch of different reactions when I tell people where I'm going today. Some have laughed and said, "You have fun with that." Some have said theirs isn't much of a reunion.

I think of Jeff Foxworthy and his descriptions of family reunions, and I realize: People don't usually have very good connotations.

That's sad. I've always looked forward to mine.

Our reunions simple affairs. We find a pretty place with a body of water and a pavilion for shelter. Somebody orders fried chicken, and everybody brings sides and desserts. We eat, we talk, the kids go swimming and the grandparents fan themselves in the pavilion over Nanny's famous banana cake (now made by Aunt Neecie) and catch up on the latest family news: who's graduating, who's getting married, who's got a new job, who bought a new house, and so on and so forth.

Most of these people we only see twice a year. We comment on how big the children have gotten, and sometimes try to figure out who belongs to whom. But you can't let on that you don't know, so there's a lot of "Mama, who's child is that? I don't remember seeing her before. OH, wow. That's her? Boy she's gotten big!"  There's no drama. We're a polite bunch. If someone has a problem with someone else, it's handled elsewhere because we all know this isn't the place for that. (You really don't want to bring it up here unless you want The Family to know all your business!)

Attendance is dwindling. Some are out of town and just can't come. Some won't go if others don't go. Some are just busy, or are on vacation. But we still hold it, so those who want to reconnect can.

We are reinforcing the importance of family, and family is important. Even the distant cousins I only see twice a year. I think this is one of the greatest gifts our grandparents left us.