Penny For Your Thoughts, By: Nancy Whitaker
I got a letter in the mail a couple of summers ago and I noticed it came from Florida. I said, “Hmmm. Who do I know from Florida?” It was from a Fran Rangle and once I opened it I was surprised and happy to find that it was an invite to a family reunion.
The girl who sent it was named Frances, but I always knew her as Tootie. She is my first cousin and I have a bunch of great cousins which I do not get to see very often. One family has, Tootie, Kathy, Jean Ann, Peggy and Tim. Another family has Judy, Bill, Sandy and Cindy and then they have children and grandchildren.
One group of family cousins live in Wisconsin so they did not attend the reunion. Then there are some cousins from around this area and for some reason, we just don’t get together very much either.
On the invitation, it told us to bring some old photos. 3 of my kids said they were coming but only one did. However, they all informed me, “We don’t want to show our old school pictures, so Mom don’t go digging them out.”
Naturally, I am proud of my family and I am interested in what all the rest of the family is doing. Food is always great at a reunion, so even though hot dogs, and other items were on the menu, I like to make something too.
Now, I recall when I was young, our church had reunions or what we called Homecoming. Wow was the food good and I could not hardly wait to dig into that good old fried chicken, mashed potatoes and some of the best desserts you ever ate. Lots of those things have changed and a lot of churches have Fellowship Halls to hold festivities in. So now, there is a lot less outdoor eating.
Back in the day, we set up tables outside and even though the pesky flies were buzzing and wanting to try to steal a morsel, it did not seem to bother anyone. Years ago at reunions croquet was usually the game of choice. I hated the game croquet because I could never get the ball to go through the wires, plus once someone hit me in the head with a croquet mallet. Ouch!!!
Whether you have a big family or a small one, it is always good to show up at a family reunion. You never know, maybe one of the family members may have won the lottery, had more children; has a great job or finished college.
Picture taking is always good to do at reunions. Looking at old family pictures and taking new pictures gives us a bit of the old and the bit of the new. Some people have family reunions every year at the same place and time. We are fortunate to get everyone together once in a decade.
Things change; people change; memories remain and new ones are made. Some of my old memories of my cousins are things we did and played in the 1950s. When the girls were little, we played cutout dolls and the boys played ball or acted like The Lone Ranger.
I, for one, look around at my surviving family members and am thankful to see them whenever we can get together. We are all sorta over the hill, but not down it yet.
Family Reunions? We need more.
Does your family still have reunions? What has happened in your extended family? Isn’t it good to relive old memories? Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny For Tour Thoughts.
