Blog Post #3

4^th of July Reunion

            Many of the holiday traditions my family engages in have been developed through my mom’s side of the family. However, my dad’s side of the family only holds one major annual tradition. I guess this explains why this tradition is an all-out event.

            This tradition ALWAYS, without exception, takes place on the same day of the year: The Fourth of July. I am not entirely sure how this day was chosen to have an annual family reunion so long ago, but the date stuck.

My great-grandma, or my dad’s grandma, is the woman responsible for beginning this reunion back in 1989. This courageous woman and her husband have since passed away, but the family still holds to the tradition.

Although the reunion used to be held every year at my great-grandma’s house, the location now varies. However, it doesn’t matter that sometimes we have to spend two hours in the car and other times 30 minutes, my family always attends.

At the reunion, aunts and uncles, great-aunts and uncles, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd cousins are all present. No one takes lightly to missing the reunion. Every year, my dad and his brother have to answer for the absence of their parents who live in Florida. Considering the occasion, they are expected to be present despite the distance.

Each reunion consists of three main things: food (obviously most important), swimming, and the (dreaded) pictures. The reunion, for the last few years, has begun by meeting at a church hall at 12:30 for lunch. The hall is no doubt covered in red, white, and blue decorations from the tables to the walls for the occasion.

 We make a circle, hold hands, say a prayer, and then eat. Like within many families, a kid’s table is present. Since the tables are small, we end up having to put two tables together to fit all the “kids.” Then enter the sarcastic and constant jokes.

Since everyone traditionally brings the same or a similar dish, the food becomes legendary. Everyone eats until they cannot move and then some. Probably the most famous dish present is my aunt’s cut-out cookies. If you move fast, you may be lucky enough to get your hands on one.

Then after everyone has had their fill of food for a life time (or at least a few hours), we all drive up the road to my uncle’s house to make good use of his pool. Don’t worry though, the appropriate amount of time after eating has definitely passed while everyone socializes with one another.

While children and adults chill in and around the pool, a few minor, but highly traditional things, are occurring. First, photo books of all the past reunions are floating around in which I can see pictures of my dad and his girlfriend (now my mom and his wife) and my sister before I was even born.  Although, as the younger generation, we like to complain when people run at us with cameras, I really am glad we have the pictures to look back on.

Also, a small notebook is circulating. This notebook is passed around every year, and everyone in attendance is supposed to sign and write about their past year inside of it. This is my sister’s favorite part of the reunion. She loves looking back at what people wrote in years past.

For now, this tradition is alive and thriving. I am not sure if it will last forever, but I do know that it’s memory will never truly die. We have the dedicated work of a few family members to thank for preserving our family history and, for that, I am grateful.