FAMILY REUNION

Wow – here we are halfway through February and a reunion that seemed a year away is looming on the horizon. By the time I get back from Arizona at the end of March, it will be almost time to start packing to head back down. So I am making lists again.

I came across a little old 3 ring binder – it’s 3 ½ x 5, pink and I’ve had it forever – think it used to belong to my Mom. It’s the one I’ve always kept in the camp kitchen but haven’t seen it for a few years so thought I’d lost it. On the first page, it has my recipe for Clam Chowder – had to make that every time we went camping so liked to keep that recipe readily available.

Then I have a list of all the camping stuff we would need – tent, stove, lantern, fuel, insurance forms (back in the old days, we didn’t have insurance cards so always had to have insurance forms on hand just in case).

Next is a list of food needed for 9 days camping – this was my list for the camping trip in 1980 to Reservation Lake – John and I went up and spent a week and then Polly and Suzy and their families came up to join us for a week. It was so much fun – so much rain – the year of the tall wildflowers and the red mushroom. Then there was the giant mushroom.

Next I have a list of all the clothes we need to pack – even back then, Val’s list included - YAHTZEE.

Finally there are lists of meals for other camping trips – Easter 1981 at Taylor’s ranch – that was back before Max and Mary moved down so it was more or less camping, other camping trips up to the White Mountains - even for one camping trip for just JW and I.

Oh how I wish on a day like today that I could turn back the clock to that time when life seemed so much simpler, when I was able to spend more time with my sisters and their families. Oh how glad I will be when June gets here and we can all be out camping together again.