Gone Fishin'

Well, I didn't do any actual fishing myself, but that about sums up the last week or so.

Family reunions are great. It's a defining childhood experience for the kids and a chance for the grownups to bask in the personality variations of our family. Cousin Time is very meaningful for my children. I'm glad to go through all the hassle of packing and driving (though our drive this year was very short) to watch the sudden bright smiles and excited jumps as they see their cousins. These kids are going to be friends for life.

This year we got together on the shore of Fourth Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, near the town of Old Forge. We had a semi-circle of cabins facing the lake, and there was no shortage of relaxing or exciting things to do. With 22 people, ranging in age from 6 weeks to 67 years, there also was no shortage of bonding or conversations in which to participate.

Highlights included a water park called The Enchanted Forest, group dinner hosted outdoors by a different family each night, watching the one year olds play in the sand and the older ones pretend to be mermaids or build massive sand fortresses, late evening games with my siblings (Jungle Speed, various card games), and hearing my kids ask "Can I go over to Grandma's house?" and answering "Yes"!

Will it really be two years before all of us are together again? We had such a good time and I look forward to seeing those same people in smaller groups... until Reunion 2010!