T'were the Nights of Reunion

The children were nestled at home...all snug in their beds.

While visions of winnings danced in our heads. I in my sundress, and Todd in his Coldplay shirt, had just settled down for the long night ahead.

When up in the cabin there arose such a clatter, our heads snapped around to see what was the matter. Away to the Sangria I flew like a flash, poured in some ice, and dared make a splash.

When what to my wondering eye should appear, but a pokeno card and 5 red circles to make the win clear.

With a lovely young lady, so lively and fun, I knew in a moment "It's Reunion" was on. She laughed and recited and called them by name: Ace of Spades, 2 of hearts, 5 of clubs, and so on with the game.

And then in a twinkling, the gift cards were gone, but there was yet time for more laughter and fun.

We gathered our girls, grabbed a Red Cup or Two, and off down the path we set out for Reunion Anew. We visited a cabin, a few, and filled our cups with Cream Puffs and tried not to spew.

We laughed and giggled as the night went along, snapping pictures and braiding hair-both short and long.

The memories were rich; the traditions ran deep. For hours and hours the same scene played the pitch. Afterall, it had for years made these moments to keep.

But that night came to a close on its own, and we readied ourselves for the rest of the week, with hours of sleep on loan.

In the wee morning hours, we stumbled back home, content in our night but ready for more. We walked to our cabins, to our friends gave a wink, and I heard somewhat mention, as he poured another drink,

"It's Reunion: an excuse all week!"

**I know it's dorky, work with me here. I think I've had 12 hours of sleep in the last 4 or so days. Reunion came to an end last night. As usual, a blast for everyone involved. The kids have great memories to last them a few years, and add to for years to come.**

Reunion: The Meltdown

Last night, we had our official first meltdowns of the week. Meltdowns of all kinds. First, there was the general breakdown in communication between the husband folk in general. Reunion is one of those places you definitely need a plan, and a meeting place. Cell phones have helped that chaos factor immensely, but still, a plan is crucial. The worst of the breakdowns involved our inability to buy bracelets to ride the AWESOME rides. We made it down to the midway a few minutes after bracelet curfew, but try to explain that to a 3 year old and a couple of 5ish year olds. Ugh. Thankfully, we satisfied them with a few rides via ticket purchases, and $7 light sabors. We won't be visiting the midway again until 2010. Yay us. And finally, there were the general exhaustion meltdowns. Staying up until the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT can wear on a little body after a few nights. Wanting to visit "water balloon land" but needing "to go to a cozy bed" caused a little inner turmoil in the little people. So, we packed up and headed home around 1 o'clock this morning. The kids are taking tonight off, and will be recharging at Grandmom's house watching movies and going to bed EARLY. The rest of us, however, will be going full throttle at the annual Game Night Extravaganza. Reunion. It's a good thing it only comes once a year.

Reunion 2009-Night 1

Bracelet Night: $45

Snow Cones: $2

Dance Party under the Pavilion: $0
Hangin' with your best bud at Reunion: Priceless.

**ya, it's a little corny and sappy, but you should have seen the fun the boys were having last night. They stopped down for the Cha-Cha; we taught them the YMCA, and to be up in the middle of the night?? Well, it doesn't get any better than that. Madison was practically flying between rides and camps celebrating her transition to "checking in." I have a feeling that by the end of the week, she just might have worked up to that.**

Hope Floats

Tonight I stumbled across Hope Floats, and just couldn't help myself. This is one of my all time favorite movies, and I know it reinforces that Inner Sap I've discussed at length, but I don't care.

The first time I saw this movie was after ascending from the great Hell most people refer to as the Grand Canyon. Todd and I had hiked 7 miles in, and 7 miles out. By the way-he left me in the Canyon, but that is neither here nor there, and we can discuss it later. We drove away from that Hell, ate dinner at Chili's, SPENT THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL, and treated ourselves to this movie. I think we were in Nevada. I cried like a little girl almost the entire movie. I'm talking snotty-can't-catch-your-breath-bawling. I'm sure my emotions were a little wacky from the recent brush with death, but I still took in each moment of this movie. Each moment that was so heart wrenching from the beginning-all the characters had so much emotion in their hearts, and so much life in their spirits. Soon after we saw this movie, Todd and I started our "real lives" with work, blah blah blah. The hustle of the daily grind tried to take some of our spirit, and we began the dream of living, working, and playing in the same town.

Now that we are here, I constantly reference this movie-I note that I have Hope Floats moments more often than not--I remember telling my sister this story just this last Christmas as we watched the Decatur Christmas Parade on the Square...I know you can just imagine. There was hot chocolate and candy canes for all. I recently posted about the oddity that is Reunion, and I relish in the daily warmth of family and friends. Small towns-they have their way...they have their way of making time slow a little, making your spirit a little lighter, and making you just a little happier to be here...

A taste of the wisdom of Hope Floats:

Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will...

Class of 1993

The last night of the old Reunion, we had a casual meeting of our graduating class...our class that graduated 15 YEARS AGO! You'd think that since all these years had passed, I would be confident and cool walking into that room. wrong. I had a nagging nervousness all day, and had to self medicate before gathering the courage to go. Once I was there, I was timewarped back to 1993 and any self confidence I had built in these last 15 years was promptly shredded as I walked through the door. so annoying. I did enjoy talking with people while I was there, but also felt on stage the entire time...and as I talked with other people later in the night, I realized that I am not the only crazy person in the world-that almost everyone else feels the same way about high school. Isn't that crazy? Especially, if you think about it, if everyone is feeling insecure now, and also felt insecure then-who were the really confident people making us all so insecure? I think they were those little negative voices we have in our own heads...I think there may not have been anyone making me insecure but me. Now there's a revelation. Today I've been searching for quotes (long story), and stumbled upon this one:

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in
harmony." -Mahatma Gandhi

Just think-if you dismissed every negative image and thought about yourself or anyone else, and aligned that with what you said and did-imagine the self confidence and happiness that would just come crashing your direction. I think I'd be able to walk into any room and make a connection-make a splash in someone else's world. Because I'm good enough, smart enough, and dog gone it people like me!

Wise County Old Settler's Reunion

We just finished up the annual Wise County Reunion. For one week a year, all residents move out to these "camps" to spend the better part of each day and night. There is a carnival...

There are live bands and snowcones....

There are excessively late bedtimes and spontaneous domino tournaments....

I'm highlighting the festivities here, but I really can't do the essence justice. It's a wonderfully odd tradition, and one that we are increasingly becoming engrossed in as we continue to live, work, and play in this town. This was the first year our kids were old enough to stay up late, to participate in the nightly water balloon fights, and begin thinking about "checking in". What a wonderful invention that "checking in". We had the luxury of visiting while our children ran around like banshees untill all hours of the night...a childhood fantasy as well as a grown up one.