This is going to be a BIG one! A new Saturday thing!

A century of gathering once a year is a mighty celebration.  This year there is more excitement than I've seen in a very long time about our reunion.  We're filling more than 10% of an Embassy Suites!  Cousins are coming from so many states I've lost track (and some from other countries).  We're looking forward to seeing those we are close to, and to getting to know those we don't know as well.

On Saturday, there will be a conference room at the Embassy Suites open from 9 am to 11 pm.  I will have the family artifacts there (including the big sign in book if you wan't to look for someone's signature), photos, and the posters I've made explaining the family.  I'll also have a deck of cards and someone to smile and greet you.  If you need a place to meet up, you're welcome there.  

Hopefully, having the pictures, sign in book, other artifacts available the day before will cut down on the crowd near them during the reunion.  We will have significantly more cousins gathering this year, so I'm thinking crowd control.  What a wonderful thought!

Cousins have called to let me know they can't make it this year.  Some have said they'll be joining us next year.  I'm so glad!  I've attended about 45 reunions.  When I was young, there were people I knew I'd see that I only saw once a year (Bob with his cigars, bunnies, pride and joy was certainly one of many I looked forward to seeing).  Every time my Uncle Billy chose me as his partner in the water balloon toss was special (I was horrible at it and Uncle Billy liked to win, it was a true show of affection!).  Some of the cousins I looked forward to seeing annually are no longer with us on earth, and the reunion is no less special for me.  There are still cousins I look forward to seeing each year, and there are cousins I wish I saw each year but see randomly.

The before and after the reunion were also important in my younger days and still are.  Having my closer cousins drive up, stay with my parents, talk before hand, gather before and after brings such joy.  I'm hoping that having the room available to gather at the Embassy Suites leads to laughter and a deeper sense of family love and support, a deeper sense of our amazing family!