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Sunday, June 19

12:30 PM

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I specify Bruce Hershey Family Picnic to clarify that this group is made up of my siblings and our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. At this point Cerwin and I are the only ones with great grandchildren, but we recently learned that my sister and her husband Marlin will become great grandparents in December.

When Cerwin and I decided that it had become too much work for us to host this event, our niece Amy and her husband Kevin offered to be the hosts. If we could drive across the fields, we would probably have half-a-mile drive, but since we have to go by road, it is probably a mile and a quarter from our house – and a quarter of that is their long lane. That’s my youngest brother Steve in the blue shirt facing the camera – talking to our daughter Deb.

Amy set up a website for us to register the number who were or who were not coming and the food we wanted to bring.

Hudson had a clever way to hold his plate.

Our niece Karen talking to my brothers Dale and Clair.

Most of us chose the sunshine on the east side of the house so the wind wouldn’t carry our plates away. Their house blocked the wind.

Our son Jeff held their newest granddaughter Emmy while her parents (Nate and Lauree) ate.

Afte lunch I gave my siblings the small pillows that I had made from our mother’s wedding dress and a shirt of our dad’s. Her dress was originally navy but faded to an interesting shade of burgundy.

I hadn’t brought the teddy bear that was made from my wedding dress, Cerwin’s wedding suit and the blue material from the bridesmaid’s dresses. Someone wanted to see it and Clair thought there should be a picture of me holding it.

Visiting after lunch.

Our daughter Deb always takes care of candy and prizes for the children.

She gave Heidi the responsibility of throwing the candy. My sister and I have a few grandchildren and great grandchildren in this group, but most are the grandchildren of our brother Steve and his wife Brenda.

Reunions should be required for families because they help us stay in touch. How can a family remain friends and encourage each other if they never see each other? Reunions often result in sweet fellowship and cousins and 2nd cousins can stay in touch.