In the morning - late morning - I'm headed to the panhandle.
It is time for the annual Bain Family Reunion.
The reunions started about 30 years ago as birthday parties for Robert's grandfather, George Omah Bain, and were attended by just his sons and their families.
Then the reunions grew bigger. G.O.'s brothers and cousins began to come and then Aunt Norma went on a quest to find every Bain in the country that might be kin to G.O. At times there were to 150 or more people there all claiming to be kin to us in some way.
There were years that I skipped the reunion. I could always find little things to have to be doing on that Saturday. And the Great State of Texas helped out a few years by making that very week-end tax free for school supplies and back to school clothing. Well, I had to go shopping didn't I!
Now there are only two brother still living, Robert's dad, Gene, and his Uncle Joe. The numbers have dropped greatly with the deaths of these patriarchs. Extended families don't make the effort to come anymore.
The Bain Reunion is now more a gathering of Gene's and Joe's families with a few of the other first cousins and some of their children there.
I expect to see familar faces and wonder which cousin's child is newly married, or divorced, or expecting. Gossip about the how much weight so and so has gained or lost and wonder why someone else is not there. I have wonderful pictures of the fantastic cruise we took our crew to show and I have a picture album of Bain Reunion past to share.
I will take pictures and enjoy another year of being with family that I only see once each year. It seems more important to be there now. I'm not sure the reunions will continue much longer and in a way that makes me sad.
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11 months ago
5 comments:
Have a fun and safe trip, Patsy! Family is so important. Rick's family; he's one of nine and lots of cousins to boot, used to rent cabins for a week every summer. Unfortunately they don't do that anymore. It's kind of sad. I think it would be cool to go on a cruise but I think his family is too big. My m-i-l as 22 grandbabies!
That pretty well sums up the Richardson reunions, too. We didn't go for many years, there were lots of reasons why. Now, we make an extra effort to drive to Shamrock every year to attend. Often we are the only one of Earl's children to be there. There is only one of Everett's (Joe's grandad) children left, now. We are not sure how much longer this Reunion will continue, but we plan to attend until they decide to stop having it. Have a good time, and a safe trip North.
Have a safe, enjoyable trip...
Oh I hope the reunions continue. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful trip. I can't wait to see the photos.
It seems like a lot longer than 10 days since you've posted. And even longer since you've commented. I know it HASN"T been longer - it just feels that way.
So - I just wanted to make sure you're okay - of course - you may not be back yet in which case - I hope you're having fun - but I just thought I'd check.
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