Family Reunion Week-end...

Friday 5/8/09 - It's finally here. The family has arrived. We're all in one place. Dad's sister, Marian (IL), her son Guy (OR), her son Tom (IL), her daughter, Dawn (TX), Dawn's son Cody, Dawn's daughter Kim (TX), Kim's husband Joey, and their son Brandon. Then mixed with our family - we number 24. It was an amazing reunion! Dave and I met Guy at the airport. Mom and Dad met Aunt Marian and Tom. They were all due in at 2. Guy's flight was 20 minutes early. The other flight was 40 minutes late. Sooo..... we took Guy to the other terminal, where we ALL met the other flight...Aunt Marian saw Guy first. Just how we planned it. He hadn't seen her in over 5 years. It was such a sweet thing to witness. Then hugs all around - stand around and chat a little, then realized if we got going to the hotel, we could get back to M&D house, and chat our little hearts out! So off we went. As we were headed to pick up the rental car, Dawn called - they were at the hotel! They had driven from Texas. So we hurried, got checked in and found them in their room! What a great time. I haven't seen these cousins in 20-30 YEARS. Looking around M&D living room, Aunt Marian had the cutest little smile on her face. She sat in amazement. Her family – all in one place. She was telling us that she and Dad were growing up they didn’t have family time like this. They didn‘t have cousins. They only had each other. So having 27 people all in one place, all related, was just an amazing feeling for her. Then after more discussion, we found out that the last time she had all three of her kids in one place like that was – get this – 1966! Shortly after she married her current husband, Guy moved out on his own. And his career then took him all over the country. So now, we’re all here. Tomorrow we’re having a Mother’s Day brunch. Now we’re off for more catching up. 20 or 30 years is a lot of catching up! Amazing to think of how much has happened in that amount of time. Not that much when you live it, but to re-live it…it’s amazing!

Saturday 5/9/09 – After much thinking and having to make a decision, the four of us went to M&D this morning to visit with Aunt Marian. Dawn, her family, and Linda and Collin went to the Heard Museum. Tom and Guy joined us at M&Ds for visiting. (Short Interlude: Morgan and Kendra both bridged in Girl Scouts to the next level. Kendra is now a Cadette and Morgan is a Senior! I hope they continue – more COOKIES!!!) 5 pm Saturday, all 24 of us gathered at Cathy’s house.

We were only missing 4 people. Good Food and Good company – we talked and talked till we were almost talked out. The adults made the rounds, talking to everyone. The kids (3 14/15 year olds, an 11 year old and 2 5 year olds)

hit it off and talked and played all evening, with no ‘issues’. Very cool! I think everyone got to talk to everyone at one time or another. It was really nice to be able to catch up with everyone, at least a little.

Sunday 5/10/09 – The gathering for Brunch.

Of course, we waited for the matriarchs to arrive. The poor servers were just waiting for something to do. All the food was set up right at 10 – and we didn’t get in there till 10:30. So they waited. And waited. However, the food was GREAT! Mom and Aunt Marian got their corsages, and we all sat to eat. Well after a bunch more pictures were taken. There were 7 moms in all that day.

Wow – what a bunch! The food was so good, and we were very well behaved. Then out to the pool went the teen-agers. For a short time, the swimming was a fun time had by all (4 of them, anyway) and then we (the Lightburne’s) left for the other Lightburne’s for a get together with Dave’s family. There again – fun time had by all. We ate more – not that any of us were hungry, mind you, but we ate anyway. Subs, potato salad. cake and ice cream. Who can pass that up? Back to the house to relax a bit, then off to the Botanical Gardens to see the cactus and this Chihuly exhibit. Wow – what a fantastic display of glass art! It was spectacular.

Very interesting pieces. I’m really glad Cathy told us to get the later reservations, so we could see them at night. All lit up, with the cactus, it was just beautiful.

We all sat around at the entrance (now the exit) and talked for quite a bit longer. No one wanted to leave, as it would be the good-byes all around for most. Not an easy time in my family. There were tears, very long hugs, and very sweet words exchanged.

5/11/09 – Tom and Aunt Marian were leaving at 11:15. I got the girls off to school, and met him, and Dawn and her family for breakfast. That was such a nice time too, being able to talk to Dawn and Tom. Off to the airport to meet up with M&D and Aunt Marian. Well – figures – the plane was almost 2 hours late. So we sat and drank soda till 12:45. It was a very nice visit, though. Mom, Dad, Aunt Marian, Tom and me. Last minute memory catching up and sharing. Then time for the security check and down to the gate. Believe it or not, I did not cry! I surprised myself on that one! Thought I would, considering I cried with Morgan in the Mohave parking lot this morning! But from all indications, they’re off to Chicago, and Tom will put Aunt Marian on the train in the morning.

This week end was just the best. It was so fun to watch Dad and Aunt Marian being brother and sister, and looking out on their families. Their children, their grandchildren, even their great-grandchildren. They both had that same little grin – obviously brother and sister! They even mentioned “look what we started”. It was so neat to watch them watch everything and everybody. And we all hit it off like we’d been together all along. I sure hope it isn’t another 20+ years before we get together again. It better not!