So it all begins around 8am at the Clemmer household. Dad has been deemed the "road captain" for the trip (That means that nobody else gets to drive...eek!), AND, wait for it...we rented our FIRST MINI VAN! That's right, the Clemmer, Penn, Siler clan rolled 6 deep in the mini all the way to Alabama. Yes, Dad was the road captain of the mini! HAHAHAHA! (If you don't know my dad, picture long goatee, tattoos, black Harley shirt, driving a mini with grandma in the front seat, wife and 2 prissy daughters + 1 boyfriend in the back.) So before we could even get out of Fountain Inn, Dad has managed to get the driver display only in kilometers, brayed at the horses on 418 and called himself a "pimp". And yes, that all happened in a 10 mile distance from our home. Lord. Help. Us. So for the next six hours, this is how we are stuck. I mean talking about about arguing over the radio, whose feet are touching whom, etc. Picture Clark Griswald...BINGO!
When we finally get to Alabama and get all checked in, we make our way to our cabin. Of course it isn't ready for us, so we sweat our BUTTS off while we wait. (Cause it's really hot in Alabama ya'll! We were totally dressed for a South Carolina fall morning, not an Alabama afternoon.) Long story short, after we get all settled (with few arguments over bed arrangements, who will use the bathroom first, you get the idea) Dad and I set off to walk/run. Dad did the walking, I did the running. I didn't run nearly as far as I did last year, but I just had to get out and do it. This state park has the most beautiful lake with a paved loop and I really enjoyed it last year, so I had to do it again. Plus, it felt WONDERFUL to stretch after getting out the car. After showering up, I took off to hug necks of all my fabulous family. Here is a photo of my favorite "road captain".
Saturday morning we did more "cabin hopping" until it was time for the family photos. Here is my fav shot of our little family. I wish we had a way to get a whole group picture, because you really should picture this time 7 (the number of my grandmother's siblings). It is quite a sight!
So the rest of Saturday was spend doing LOTS of eating, story telling with Uncle Ben, a beautiful candle light service for those who are no longer with us, one WILD sister act, and a bonfire complete with boiled peanuts and smores! I really can't even begin to put into words how much this special time with my family means to me each year. We have been doing this reunion since the early 70's, and it just amazes me that we haven't skipped a single year, nor have we stopped this beautiful tradition. I fear that as the weight of this reunion falls on the shoulders of my generation in future years that we will not be as "driven" to get together each year. Every year's reunion has been special to me, but for some reason, this reunion feels like it was the best one we have had in a long time.
Mema knows you are never too old to slide!
Some of my sweet girls.
The grand kids (my cousins).
My grandmother and her living brothers and sisters.
Uncle Gordon was my buddy for the afternoon on Saturday. We had a blast!
So long story short of this blog is if you don't do a family reunion, you don't know what you are missing! Be the one to organize it the first time. I can promise you that it will be worth it.
Knight Family....Looking forward to being one of your "hostesses" next year!! :) Uncle Ben, we drew our family tree on the way home, so you should be proud.
I would love to post lots and lots more pictures, but for some reason my blogger is not cooperating and I still have some school work before Sons of Anarchy comes on at 10. :)
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