After our time in Wyoming, we headed to Idaho for the larger family gathering. This is a biannual event, last hosted by us, and it brings together (almost) all of Pepper’s siblings, many of their kids, and some of their kids’ kids. I still remember the first reunion I attended, almost three decades ago, where there were around sixty people. Sixty direct relatives! Just learning names was a challenge, especially when one brother goes by either Bill or Russ, depending on who’s referring to him. Fortunately, in those three decades I’ve learned most of the names.
On the morning of the big day, we had a few hours to blow before meeting up with the crowd. We and Tara’s family decided to swing past Storybook Park, which is an awesome public park near where Pepper’s parents used to live. Our kids loved going to Storybook Park and climbing on all the towers and bridges.
Zack and I were astounded– and pleased– to discover the park still has an operational merry-go-round. I’m not talking about some fancy new plastic “safe for all ages” contraption; I’m talking about the old-school “use centrifugal force to fling everyone to their deaths” spinning metal disc. We had a grand time getting dizzy.
The ladies were more tame, choosing instead to use the swings. It was funny to see three adult women swinging while younger children watched, mystified and wondering when they’d get a turn.
After a while we decided to play Groundies, which is an old kids’ game where one person is “it” and can run around anywhere– including the ground– in an effort to tag someone else. The rest of the participants are required to stay on the playground equipment, never touching the ground. It was a hoot. Here are Pepper and Zack, watching for Emi as she tracked us.
We probably played for an hour. Again, there were a bunch of small children who were playing off to the side, watching warily as a bunch of fully grown-up adults climbed around on the playground. Honestly I feel a little bad about that now. But hey, how often do grown-ups get to do that sort of thing?
Before we left, I felt like I just had to ride the combine. Rural Idaho, right?
Eventually we made our way to the reunion proper, where we were warmly greeted by the fifty or so relatives gathering at the shore of the Snake River. Don and Mel have a house on the river, with a sweet pavilion and dock on the water. We spent the day paddleboarding, swimming, boating, volleyballing, spikeballing, and generally hanging around catching up with one another. In the evening, we were treated to dinner on Don and Mel’s incredible patio, which they’ve constructed over the years until it’s become an area that can comfortably host a party of fifty people.
Later we had the traditional “family auction”, where everyone donates useless junk from their homes and we all bid outrageously high sums of money for it. The money goes into a fund that’s used to buy food and other stuff at the next reunion. It’s actually a pretty good system, except for the part where we end up taking home someone’s useless junk. As is tradition, Doug was the auctioneer while Nancy held up the wares and pressured people into bidding on them.
It had been a long day, but a fun one. As night fell, a few of us descended on the local Dairy Queen for a bedtime snack. Lily wanted one last selfie with us, although she looks more scared than happy with her cone.
The reunions are always a blast, and I’m excited that the next one will be in Phoenix. In January.