Reunion time again...

Well it was the second Sunday of July once more which means the yearly trip to my uncles farm to gather around the “pig pit” or BBQ pit and enjoy the smothering heat together. I of course cooked a small casserole so not to show up empty handed and look like some sort of useless dweeb. This year I stopped by G and PG s home to pick them up, it also looks like I really went out on helping for the picnic. PG has been having issues with his back lately and shuffling a full ice chest and countless dinner boxes couldn't make his back any better. I was there an hour early to help out and load up the truck, he seemed grateful but in a pesky mood.
Some always would gather up the night before so the older guys can watch the pit and share ghost stories and old family tales. When we three were younger I couldn't wait for that night, mom would let us take a sleeping bag and stay up as long as we could manage. I would inhale fried apple pies and sweet tea to keep me going until the sugar rush would finally hit me into a crash. Some times Trace would have dared to hang out that night with us as well and bring his guitar.
My Pops had already made it over to the farm and plopped down in a chair sharing stories of his youth with whomever would listen. All the older ones seem to enjoy hanging out under one of the many silver maple trees planted around the house with those industrial sized fans blowing about. All the men my PG age would occasionally comment on how they didn't have these fancy fans blowing about, “we just stood out here and sweated it out”. Of course no one points out you wouldn't catch any of them more than a meter away from the cool air now.
My uncle that sponsors the land for the picnic passed away last year just before that years reunion. I decided not to attend and fiend “a headache”. I cant take everyone being sad and down from the lost of a beloved relative. He has four sons who now have taken on the yearly task.
This year not as many people were in attendance, possibly because we are going through some of the hottest weather in decades. No matter how many huge fans we had blowing about it wasn't going to help much. The lemonade that's made every year couldn't cool you off, I of course opted out for the sweet tea.
The kids are getting bigger as well, the twin boys that I helped with a few years ago now have a baby sister and those boys ripped and romped around the yard chasing each other. I found it amusing to watch them when each family “group” did their yearly family photos. Just like our twins they found each other and wrapped their arms around their necks with heads together and stood to smile for the picture. When I was that young at picture time I wanted to be as far away from Jacks and Luke as possible, I disliked the “Oh they all three look so much alike” remarks.
The one child everyone was sure not to survive past 5 is now in the sixth grade. He is slow in walking and talking, head awkwardly shaped and topped off with shock bright red hair. He has the sweetest disposition in life and loves football sadly is unable to play, the school lets him coach. Friendly beyond friendly, he cruised the pods of families saying hi and getting whatever conversation he could out of them. He, my Pops and I had a long chat on his plans for his team. You go little man.
Lori is at the age now where she doesn't really care to be with family, it isn't cool, she couldn't wait for the storm clouds to come blowing in so we would have to scatter and run home. She wanted to hit the beach and be with the girls. Girls yeah right, I know what she wanted to be with, I was the same way at that age and I did want to be with the girls.
I kept my eye out for G, the heat wouldn't do her much good so she planted herself in a folding chair near a fan under one of the tents and chatted most the day away. I half expected someone to stand in the line to get her lunch but after the prayer she hopped right up and took her place to make her own plate. She seems smaller to me now, her white hair even whiter and silver blue eyes even bluer. She had a small patch on her shin from the surgery still, that damn staph infection hasn't totally cleared up there.
Subject topics haven't changed one bit, the older tell you all about their aliments and doctors visits. Then you have the ones that talk about who is and isn't married and those that talk about work and children. When the “why aren't you married yet” subject comes rolling in my direction I tend to slip out and play with the kids or suddenly get dry and in need of more tea because the next I hear is
“You need to come over to the house I have someone you should meet”. I swear every one of my aunts could get a job at Match.com. I like how things are now thanks.......
Fortunately for Lori, around an hour after everyone stopped with the food the clouds rolled in, of course that doesn't last long but makes it for a quick excuse to pack up and run home to nap. Which we did.