We didn't start having family reunions for a long time. Then finally my mother started to put one together about 7 years ago. After being at my aunts funeral and running into the caretaker of the apartment complex I lived in, we both walked up to each other and said "what are you doing here?" and saying at the same time.. This is my aunt's funeral" turned out we were cousins and didn't know it. It was odd because we were all having to introduce ourselves to each other (cousins and that). We had them for about 3 years. They were fun. We'd meet at the park for rolls and coffee, I never showed up until later... but the older people did to save the spots (which I found odd since we reserved them anyway) We'd have adult games, and kids games.. sack races, three legged races, egg tosses (usually kids paired up with their parents so we could actually egg our parents lol) it was a lot of fun. We'd swim and play volley ball, by the end of the evening we'd be pretty much grouped off, some playing cards, other's laying in on blankets and talking some dancing.. a lot of us a little tipsy. It was good while it lasted... But it ended up where one or two people had to do all the work and we stopped having them. I have family day now about once every two month but just immediate family. I don't put any demands on people (which my mother does try to interfere in that lol) .. I do cards, have movie/pizza, game nights, bowling, softball is coming up, and we are planning on going to the twins game in June... it's sort of a come if you want thing no pressure. Little mini family reunions. I started this after my brother died because I want my family to stay close. And have some fun, and always remember each other without the big old drama of the holidays only. Guess I got off track here...
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18 comments:
Of a total of 6 siblings, 2 of us live in different states, the others live in Hawaii where my parents also live. 2003 was the first time I'd been home in 15 years. For 3 of my children it was their first time meeting many of my side of the family. Its had living so far away but we are fortunate to be close even if its just on the phone or through letters and emails. My parents visit when they can, and one sister, who spent some time with us while her husband was stationed in Korea, plans on retiring here so we're really excited about that. Now that my oldest has moved out to another state my own little family now has to start thinking of ways to stay in touch. He's been in the military since October, and has already been home 2x, with 2 more trips planned before fall. I dread the day the visits dwindle down to being years apart.
Mom's family always had the best reunions. Being from a southern family, there was no alcohol but everyone had a good time and there certainly was no shortage of good food! They took place - sometimes at a park, sometimes at a person's house, and once at church rec hall. I missed the last one but heard that one of my cousins had his country band there and another cousin who is in very bad health had the strength to get up and sing a gospel song that left everyone in tears because it was so beautiful. Since mom has turned against my only aunt on that side of the family, and some of the elders have passed, we don't see the reunions anymore and I sure do miss them. Heck, even just to get together with the immediate aunt and uncles and see how much my first cousins have changed would be great. We really weren't close to dad's side of the family. Dad came from a family of 7 kids. They all get together once a year - sometimes they think to invite my parents, sometimes they don't. What bothers me is that dad has first cousins still living and none of them or their families are ever invited to these things. But, the last one I attended was really good. I got to catch up with cousins, go swimming, and being a family with German Mennonite roots, the food was very very good. I love family potlucks! They just don't like me!!!! Hugs, Sheila
I hated this topic ......short and brief ..............Diane
Oh you went there!!!!!! lol and of course I had to follow!!!!
http://journals.aol.com/demandnlilchit/LifeasIliveit/entries/931
me and my cousin jake(partner in crime) always managed to find SOMETHING to do or get into. wether its stealing coolers or just leaving the reunion period.
last family reunion got dangerous but fun. it was a few years ago we havent had any since the family has been going through things. anyway my cousin and i went into the back of his club house they had a bed, toilet grill all of that(the backyard of an empty house) anyway we had took some hot dogs and decide to grill em and some old lady gonna call the cops when we was minding our biz, we heard the cops say hey kids what yall doing back there . mind you i had my stepsister with me and my half brother and at that point i didnt care about them i was gone. i took off my sandals and my feet was smacking the ground they chased us about two blocks then we ditched them and went back to the reunion and enjoyed telling all our other cousins and aunts and uncles how we just escaped being locked up.~*Diama*~
No alcohol because it was a southern family? I've always heard the it was the Southern'rs that were operating the moonshine stills and delivering it with fast cars. The root beginnings of NASCAR. LOL
heres mine http://journals.aol.com/pittsk615/PhoenixSymphony/entries/899
~Kristina
We used to have family reunions every year, we had a committee that planned it all out a year ahead of time and everything. We also had a family newspaper.
Our family is quite large and spread out all over the united states.
They used to come from all over to the reunion.
well I know Ive had at least 2 ,one I was very young so I dont remeber anything but it was at our house,The other was when I was about 17 I guess.
Not even sure where it was at or how we got there .I do know my best friend was with me .my mentaly ill uncle was there he asked if me and my best friend was sisters....(he spent alot of time in an institute .I remeber a pool but didnt go swimming .(i Think it was in cali not sure though)
Bieng only 34 I should remeber more but its like an old movie I watched that has fadded thats about all on this ?
My husband's family has a reunion every year. Since we live in another state, we make it maybe every third year or so. They're fun. The food is good, and we get to catch up on people we haven't heard from since the last reunion we attended. We go to a local park early in the morning, eat, play games for both kids and adults, and watch relatives disagree. But wheat is family if we don't have disagreements? My kids got to meet some of their cousins. Because of the internet, they have been able to get to know each other and email each other during the years between.
Jude
This is a tough one for me. My dad`s side of the family had reunions as far back as I remember, he came from a very big family. They were down south and we moved north when I was 9. I stopped going to the reunions for about 10 years as a teenager, doing my own thing too busy! Then a few years ago I went to one with my own family, it was the first time alot of my family had met my wife and kids. We had a good time. The following year my dad was dying of lung cancer, so they mover the reunion up a couple of months just for him. He was always one of the leaders in his family, someone people always looked up to. He had turned things around in his life and was a very religious man. My mother and I took him down(my kids were in school, so my wife stayed home with them). He had a hard time with the trip it was 600 miles. I was going through alot of personal turmoil at the time and was drinking way too much. The day of the reunion my older brother and I split a bottle of vodka and were out of it. My dad got up to make a speech to his family, and my brother and I missed it, we were in the bathroom. I never got to hear what my dad said. He passed away two months later. Not a shining moment for me......regrets....I`ve had a few.
i remember a few family reunions from both my parents sides when i was pretty young. i dont have many cousins my age- so they were not a lot of fun- just a lot of old people. of course there were lots of stories shared, but because i was young i wasnt really interested. now with so many of the older ones in my family gone, i wish i would have taken time to listen. my family reunions just faded away as the older generation passed away. kinda sad if you think about it- maybe i'll have to start the tradition again as i get older.
http://journals.aol.com/shelt28/CarolynsJournalJar/
Carolyn
I invite you to read my answer: Journal Jar Question #42
This is a short one from me. No one in my family likes anyone enough to have a reunion, I guess they figure once you get the hell away from them stay that way, lol. So I have nevre been to one at all.
http://journals.aol.com/unicornsteph80/Welcometomylife/entries/360
And of course you remember _____
Lori
http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/LorisJournalJar/entries/381
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