Family Reunions (military, travel, work)

[TexasReb]

Greetings fellow Texans!

Because I am going to be tied up a bit this weekend, I am going to post the semi-regular poll today instead of Sunday! The topic involves family reunions.

Just to give the usual background information as to how the idea originated, this one too stems from a "socio-cultural" survey done some years ago. Akin in many ways to the "what do you call your grandparents" variety! That is, this study found that those from the generally defined Southern United states tended to be more likely to have "annual family reunions" than other regions (although parts of the northeast, with its ethnic enclaves, were close in some ways).

Anyway, the reason speculated for it being so was the largely rural and agrarian history in the South, which contributed to the "extended family" tradition.

And of course, since I have one to attend tonight, there is a personal aspect to the matter! LOL

Soooo, poll question is: Are/were family reunions part of your family experience?

If so, y'all share some memories and details!

Now then, back to the ball-game. Hook 'em Horns! \../

[lonestar2007]

I remember when I was a kid living in East Texas the family reunions we had where we would all gather together for the day at someone's home and one time even on the church's yard. They would try to make it convenient for everyone and with the least amount of traveling. Sometimes some would still have quite a distance to come and lots of times would end up staying over at another relatives house for the night.

I remember the long tables loaded with food, all kinds. Fried chicken, ham, roasts, bar-b-que briskets, mmm, mmmm, potato salads, beans, corn salads, relishes, I don't know, you name it. There would be light bread, of course, but lots of homemade breads and rolls. Oh, just so good. One time in the fall I remember the men set up this big old black kettle over an open fire and was cooking squirrel or maybe it was rabbit (I forget which) stew. Then the best of all to a kid, the tons of desserts, all kinds of cakes, pies, cookies, banana puddings, just delicious and such variety.

Of course, the older people got caught up on things, all the while grabbing one of us kids as we were passing by and making the usual remarks...My, you've grown, why I wouldn't have recogonized you if your Mother hadn't told me who you were. Then they've have to call someone over to go through the whole thing again, asking them if they knew who you were, that wasn't it amazing how you'd grown. Of course, you couldn't say anything, but you were always thinking...of course, I've grown! I'm a kid, what do you expect. But it was just a part of the whole scenario and loved every bit of it.

All of us kids would get together and play and have a ball. The grown-ups would usually set up a game of horse shoes, sometimes they had tables set up for dominos or cards. We kids would bring things along to play with too, like Old Maid or if someone had a bow & arrow set, they bring it and we'd take turns. Ate till it was sinful and at the end of the day, everyone started drifting off, going home, with the parting remarks, we've got do to this more often, and y'all come see us now, hear Fun times.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

I remember when I was a kid living in East Texas the family reunions we had where we would all gather together for the day at someone's home and one time even on the church's yard. They would try to make it convenient for everyone and with the least amount of traveling. Sometimes some would still have quite a distance to come and lots of times would end up staying over at another relatives house for the night.

I remember the long tables loaded with food, all kinds. Fried chicken, ham, roasts, bar-b-que briskets, mmm, mmmm, potato salads, beans, corn salads, relishes, I don't know, you name it. There would be light bread, of course, but lots of homemade breads and rolls. Oh, just so good. One time in the fall I remember the men set up this big old black kettle over an open fire and was cooking squirrel or maybe it was rabbit (I forget which) stew. Then the best of all to a kid, the tons of desserts, all kinds of cakes, pies, cookies, banana puddings, just delicious and such variety.

Of course, the older people got caught up on things, all the while grabbing one of us kids as we were passing by and making the usual remarks...My, you've grown, why I wouldn't have recogonized you if your Mother hadn't told me who you were. Then they've have to call someone over to go through the whole thing again, asking them if they knew who you were, that wasn't it amazing how you'd grown. Of course, you couldn't say anything, but you were always thinking...of course, I've grown! I'm a kid, what do you expect. But it was just a part of the whole scenario and loved every bit of it.

All of us kids would get together and play and have a ball. The grown-ups would usually set up a game of horse shoes, sometimes they had tables set up for dominos or cards. We kids would bring things along to play with too, like Old Maid or if someone had a bow & arrow set, they bring it and we'd take turns. Ate till it was sinful and at the end of the day, everyone started drifting off, going home, with the parting remarks, we've got do to this more often, and y'all come see us now, hear Fun times.

You sure we ain't kinfolk somewhere along the line, LoneStar? Cos sure sounds like we were at the same ones! *smiles.

What a great telling of it you did! Kissing cousins and lightning bugs...and don't forget grinding the ice-cream!

Tonight, at ours, some of us all just remembered back in the day when the reunions were all-night affairs. Kinfolk slept on cots and throw-down mattresses. And of course, granma/granny wouldn't allow drinking, so some of the men slipped away to have that sly snort (or several) on the side.

Seemed like back in those days the moon was always full, and nights were summer warm, and the stars were always twinkling and bright....

[lonestar2007]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

Seemed like back in those days the moon was always full, and nights were summer warm, and the stars were always twinkling and bright....

I think you caught the true essence in this one sentence. Brings back warm, happy memories. Oh, and you're right, forgot the ice cream! Watermelons too!

[Rathagos]

Assuming I understood how to answer right, I said I was a "transplanted Texan (non-southerner)."

I am originally from the San Francisco-San Mateo area of California. I joined the Navy in 1982 and have no desire to go back to that state of freaks of nature. Their idiotic politics and laws are an embarassment to the rest of the U.S.

Anyway, as a child, I don't remember many "family reunions" but, being Irish-Italian, we always got together for the holidays. 4th of July at San Mateo Central Park was a huge event when most of the family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc.) got together. We normally had enough for two sides for a softball game and a good cheering crowd!

But the warmest memories of family get-togethers was for Christmas. Because our family was so large, two people would normally have to host it any given year. For example, we might go to my grandmother's for a couple hours on Christmas eve, and see a lot of our family, exchange gifts, etc. Then we'd head over to my great-aunt's for a couple more hours and more gift exchanges. Seeing so many family members and the warm love that normally flows that time of year was just great for me growing up.

Sadly, many of the older family members have passed, my mother lives further up north, my sister central Calif, and I'm here in Texas. I lost touch with most of my cousins after almost 21 years in the Navy. So, my family is now scattered. The last time we had a "huge" get together (and that was maybe 25 people) was for my Navy retirement party at my uncle's.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by lonestar2007

I think you caught the true essence in this one sentence. Brings back warm, happy memories. Oh, and you're right, forgot the ice cream! Watermelons too!

*slaps my own self for forgettin the watermelon*

Rathagos wrote:

Anyway, as a child, I don't remember many "family reunions" but, being Irish-Italian, we always got together for the holidays. 4th of July at San Mateo Central Park was a huge event when most of the family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc.) got together. We normally had enough for two sides for a softball game and a good cheering crowd!

But the warmest memories of family get-togethers was for Christmas. Because our family was so large, two people would normally have to host it any given year. For example, we might go to my grandmother's for a couple hours on Christmas eve, and see a lot of our family, exchange gifts, etc. Then we'd head over to my great-aunt's for a couple more hours and more gift exchanges. Seeing so many family members and the warm love that normally flows that time of year was just great for me growing up.

Sadly, many of the older family members have passed, my mother lives further up north, my sister central Calif, and I'm here in Texas. I lost touch with most of my cousins after almost 21 years in the Navy. So, my family is now scattered. The last time we had a "huge" get together (and that was maybe 25 people) was for my Navy retirement party at my uncle's.

EXCELLENT post, Rathagos! Especially interesting about your Italian-Irish heritage and the family reunion connection.

I noted in my OP that, according to this particular study, certain areas of the northeast came close to the Southern U.S. in terms of residents who said family reunions were part of their experience. Although you are not, as you say, from the NE, the reasons behind your own family's get-togethers seem to be very akin to what was given in the latter. That is, strong "ethnic bonds". In the South it was more the agrarian and rural tradition which nurtured and lent to the continuity of the extended family reunions. In parts of northeast though, it was more traceable to a very entrenched (and admirable) self-identification with ones "old country" roots.

To wander off on one of those "related tangents", I used to date a girl from Massachussetts (imagine that...as our great grandpappies probably shot at one another! LOL). Anyway, she too was Irish-Italian, and we would often share stories about our different regional heritage and experiences. She embraced hers with the same intensity I did mine, and we loved to talk about the differences (both of us being facinated with regional studies), even though they were vastly different critters. She more tended to identify with her ethnic bloodlines of Irish and Italian. By contrast, while I am Scotch-Irish primarily, my first sub-association is to my state and what I consider to be my region. That is, I think of myself as a Texan and Southerner first, whereas she considered herself first and foremost Irish-American when it came to such.

Anyway, it was always fun to compare! Thanks again for your post!

[Rathagos]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

She more tended to identify with her ethnic bloodlines of Irish and Italian. By contrast, while I am Scotch-Irish primarily, my first sub-association is to my state and what I consider to be my region.

It's funny. I do associate myself with my Irish/Italian heritage... my Irish side much more than my Italian. But, I do consider myself "Texan" first. Obviously it's not because I was born here, but the way the people in the town I live in make me feel welcome. No one ever said "you're not from around here, are you?" because of my lack of accent. The fact that I have a SF 49ers hitch cover on my truck that has never been defaced (yet - but that's probably because they have stunk for the last 5 years!!) But, as has been discussed here in the Texas forums, it's because, for some reason, Texas really does grow on you. I've lived in California, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Hawaii, and Colorado (short time in Denver). But no place has made me feel more planted, more grounded than Texas.

I can't say that it drives me back to my Irish/Italian roots, because other than me, none are planted here from my family. And, most of my co-workers are also military or retired military, so they hail from other areas as well.

Great topic, Texas Reb!!

[blueskies49]

My mother was full German but I've never considered myself "German-American", just American. Or technically, Texan-American.

Having grown up in the military mostly in Europe, family reunions were almost nil.

[WillysB]

There were two sets of reunions for my mom's family. Thanksgiving and spring.

For Thanksgiving mom's family would meet up at the farm where mom was raised, or a sister's house near there. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, grandmother. My youngest cousin and I were the youngest. I knew I belonged but never really felt a part of it.

In the spring, the relates of people buried in the local cemetery gather to clean up the place. There's some tables set up and everybody in the country side brings stuff and lays out their spreads. Met guys my mom dated in high school. There'd be a singing in the church at the cemetery and my Uncle used to play fiddle around the area so they'd get him to play. It'd go on for hours.

[case44]

My family used to do them years ago, but we don't anymore. Our reunions were held in Southern Oklahoma at a little park on the west side of the town of Atoka, and that's where we'd all be meeting. I had relatives on both sides of the Red River. One of the highlights of my times there was provided by a second cousin of mine known as Rotten Ralph. Yes, that was his nickname. Today, he is all of 80 years of age. He was a Shriner clown who always blew up balloons.........and then let them fly into the air, letting the air out, making loud noises, and annoy the fool out of my Aunt Florene.

Those were the days.