Family Reunions

(Prophitt Reunion at the Tree House)

By definition a family reunion is an occasion when many members of an extended family congregate. Sometimes reunions are held regularly, for example on the same date of every year.
A typical family reunion will assemble grandparents, great-grandparents and up for a meal, some recreation, sharing of stories, sharing pictures,  and discussion(mine usually centers around geneology information). The older attendees are generally grandparents, parents, siblings or first cousins while the youngest could be second, third or fourth cousins. It is also not uncommon for regular family reunions to be sponsored by family organizations or some kind of family association centered around a more distant common ancestor (often referred to as "ancestral family organizations") or a commonly shared surname ("single surname family organizations"). 

(Mom's 80th Birthday - July reunion)

 

 (Prophitt family reunion at 55 Iris Avenue in Alex City.)

 

(Prophitt Christmas reunion)

I have to admit....for the most part...I love them.  As a writer they offer a plethera of information to draw on.  As an apprentice in the geneology world....why waste your time on something someone else has already discovered.  That would kind of like rediscovering America....come on...Columbus already did it.  The Prophitt family(my mom's side) always holds their reunion on the Saturday of Father's Day weekend.  They do this because it was near or on the weekend of my grandfather's birthday.  This reunion involves geneology sharing, music (many of us play and sing), photo sharing, and stories.....oh there are many stories.  This is one of my most favorite gatherings of the year.  I have a great aunt who was 108 in May.....and the youngest one there was not quite a year....talk about multi-generational!  The Wilson family(my dad's side) always holds there reunion on the second Sunday in August.  Since we have moved to Rock Mills we don't attend.  They eat at 12:30 and our church service is not over until 12.  We live 2 hours from where it is held....so it is not happening.  I love this side of the family but it has begun to dwindle more and more every year.  This family is very scattered....and to be honest....there is no music... and very little .photo sharing....or geneology.  It is just a catch up with each other kind of reunion.  The Sasser/Matthews family (my dad's side too) is held towards the end of July.  It is a full weekend event and loads of fun.  They love music....and do performaces/karaoke one night, they love dominoes, they love outdoors, they love geneology and photo sharing.  The stories here are wonderful.  They usually rent a camp....and everyone comes...brings food....and they party for two days.  It is an amazing time with a lot of characters. 

(L.T. and Emma's 50th Anniversary reunion)

 

(Wilson Reunion at the Sportsplex - before it moved to Equality, AL)

 

Now...for the really odd part.  I don't just love MY reunions....I love reunions period.  This past weekend I attended the Burgess family reunion at Cheaha.  Several of our church members are from the Burgess family and we were invited to attend.  I love Cheaha...and these church family members...so I did not think twice before agreeing to go.  There is a strange part of this connection.....one of Marcie and Sherry's cousins attended school from the 6th grade til graduation in West Palm Beach, Florida with me.  I did not know this until this past year....when Gina and I were making plans to attend our 40 year class reunion....and friended each other on Facebook.  Gina's dad was one of the managers of the Publix near my childhood home.  I have not seen her folks in 40 years and they were all going to be at the Burgess reunion.  I was so excited.  Not only would I get to spend time with Marcie and her family at Cheaha....but also with Gina and hers.  I could hardly contain myself as we headed up there.  You know what I discovered????  Their family is no different than mine....they told wonderful stories about the past....they shared photos (some where on the cake we ate)....fondant photos.....and they enjoyed each others company.  Even though it was cold as rip....it was a wonderful day to fellowship with each other....new friends and old ones.  I hope we get to go back next year.  By the way, they moved their date to the first Saturday in August....the kids will be able to swim....and it will be warm.  Thank you Marcie and Sherry for inviting me....well us....I had a blast.  Porch People definitely know how to reune!  I posted some pictures of this reunion on Sunday with my Project 365.  Want to see them...click here....

(Cool photo cake from the Burgess reunion - the photos were edible!)

(Cecil's family - Sasser reunion - Hawkinsville, GA)

 

(L.T, sister, Uncle Gary, and sister) - Prophitt reunion - Opelika 1969)

I don't know about you all out there...do you have reunions?  Is it mostly a Southern thing?  Do you host them?  Do you go to them?  I wish you would leave me a comment and tell me about your family's gatherings.  I know one of my bloggy buddies family writes letters to each other at Christmas....I think this is the neatest idea ever.  So, let me hear from you.