The Re-Onion

Last Saturday I attended a family reunion. 

People from my mother’s side of the family.

Some of these people I’ve been talking about over on the Hazel’s Diary blog.

There were people there I haven’t seen for awhile that I was thrilled to get to visit with.

Some I didn’t even know, especially the youngest kids.

Some I see all the time because they still live around here, too.

And some I didn’t care to see at all!

Come on, my family’s no weirder than any other, right?

My father and I were the only ones from my “branch” to attend.

My Cowboy went with me, sweetheart that he is.

I think he just didn’t want to miss out on anything that might happen!

You never know . . .

My siblings all weaseled out, dang their hides . . .

I will say they missed out on a good meal.

My family is blessed with many good cooks.

Which reminds me . . . I need to make about 6 copies of my Black Bean and Corn Salad recipe to distribute to those who asked for it and can’t work the internet to find it on my web site!

My Uncle Larry even came back all the way from North Carolina to attend.

And Aunt Ruby was there . . .

My cousin, Beth, was helping her down the walk toward the picnic house when I arrived, and I walked up behind them, and Beth said: “Grandma, look who’s here.”

And Ruby said: “Well, Shelly, hi there! How ARE you?”

I said, “I’m just fine and dandy. How ’bout yourself?”

To which she replied: “I’m shit! Not worth a darn!” 

Oh, how I LOVE that woman!

All three of the surviving children from my grandmother’s family were there. I managed to get a picture of them all together. Here’s Vern with his two remaining sisters standing behind him, Ruth on the left, and Ruby on the right.Please note that Ruby is carrying her purse on her arm. This is a Rector trademark. You must carry your purse at all times, and never set it down somewhere. It’s like an appendage that you cannot be without. This is a gene, because my sister and I make fun of my sister’s daughter, Cassidy, who does this very thing, and is only in her 20s. If Ruth does not actually have her purse with her in this picture, which she indeed might because I can’t see whether she does or not, rest assured that it’s only because her daughter relieved her of it beforehand. I’m sure it was the first thing she looked for when pictures were over. Grandma Mildred was exactly the same. Had she been in this picture, she would have had her purse on her arm!

Vern is the only one of these three whose spouse is still living. Here he is with Aunt Josephine.Note that Aunt Jo does not have her purse attached to her person. She’s only a Rector by marriage, not by blood.

Genetic, I say!

I think the event went off without a hitch, and it didn’t last overly long, so I’m glad I took the time to go, while still being glad that it’s over for the next few years, until someone once again thinks that it’ll be a good idea for us all to get together!

And at least 10 different times, I had to answer the question:

“Are you still doin’ all that quiltin’?”