I'm working without a net here. Not on my usual computer and many of the task bar icons are not present.

Yesterday I went to Lake Brownwood for the annual reunion. Since 1966 my mothers family has been going there. We held this activity at the Mountain View Lodge. There were two years that we went to an alternate location because of issues with "new" ownership of Mountain View. (Actually Big Scottie got crossways with Whitey and Whitey wouldn't let us book the reunion there.)

Earlier this year the present ownership razed the small twelve room lodge. We already had reservations, but we weren't notified or consulted.

That made it necessary to make alternate plans for the reunion. Due to the size of this group (about a 100) it is difficult to find a large enough facility with recreational opportunities. The alternate plan was for a one day reunion at the Ratliff Lake House.

54 people attended.

One of the activities has always been a church service and this year that was the "center" of the reunion activities. I had joked with Little Scottye that with the low lake level maybe we should consider sprinkling instead of total immersion. (You would have to be Church of Christ to get that joke!).

Cousin Ronnie led the singing. Cousin Lee brought the message. Cousin Shay and Nephew Jason served the LORD's supper. Cousin Scottye and Uncle Wade led the group in prayer.

It was a bitter sweet service as I had flashbacks to the sixties and family church in one of the four rented rooms of the lodge. As best I can count it, nine people in attendance Sunday were there in 1966 at the inaugural reunion. Many in attendance were not even born at that time. (I think Bryce was the pivotal baby back then, but I don't remember if he was born before or after).

Eventually the reunion grew to a point where the family rented the entire motel facility along with two or three RV slips and four family members either owned or had access to lake houses. Still in recent years some family stayed in town due to bed shortage.

After the church service, a family meeting was held to discuss the future of the reunion. Several options were offered and a small group even investigated one option.

This reunion seemed to accent those who are no longer with us, even though it was not intentional. Of course Memaw and Gon Gon, Aunt Jo, Freddy, Terri Jo, Jesse, and Pepaw definitely left gaps, even though some have been gone for many years.

I think for many of us it was a very emotional exercise.

Probably the best thing that came from the reunion was that Memama went to Coach's and Jani's. She had almost hurt Coach's feelings because he had invited her numerous times, even offering to arrange transportation, but she had declined. For a week I had watched her day planner which boasted a circled and underlined "Steve's" followed by a number of question marks placed on Friday, the 8th.

While Memama didn't make it to Coach's on Friday (due to a blunder with her medications) she drove herself down Saturday. (She had made it very clear that if and when she went, she would drive herself. Kyle had even offered to drive her down). So she spent Saturday night and Sunday night with Coach and his family. (All three of Coach's kids, plus spouse, plus girlfriend, and all four of their redheaded granddaughters were there).

During the preamble to worship, Little Scottye let the cat out of the bag. When he was in route to the Lake Saturday, when he turned on Highway 36 at Abilene he came upon a white Cadillac he thought he recognized. When he passed it, sure enough Memama was driving. He got about a quarter mile ahead of her and led her to Cross Plains where she stopped at the store and then at Dairy Queen (DQ was a regular stop for Memama and Pepa. In fact I accused her of ordering their regular order and eating her and Pepa's ice cream.) Memama was oblivious to her being surveiled, as Scottye parked down the road or around the corner. While Memama was at DQ Scottye decided that she had made it that far and he was betting she could complete the trip, so he pulled out on the road for the last leg of the lake journey. Of course after an adequate wait, he checked at Coach's just to be sure she made the last leg.
She did.

And Memama was very proud of herself when she arrived home today about 3:30, safe and sound. Not bad for an 80 year old rookie! "Good Job!"

I informed Memama this afternoon that our next road trip would be to Shallowater. She has yet to see Rian and Erica's new house. I told her to figure it out, it could be a day trip or a couple of days. Her choice.

My patient continues to be in a great deal of pain from her latest fall. I personally think she needs to go to the doctor, but she doesn't agree. If memory serves me correctly, we are scheduled in with Dr. Mackie later this month.

It could be a long month!

FYI, I talked with Rian and he told me he has lost over fifty (50) pounds! Lifestyle changes, plus some exercise. I bet Dr. Pepper's profits show a hit! Also, he told me that Erica is training to run a half marathon in December in Dallas. This week the two oldest boys are "day campers" while Moses doesn't qualify because of age. I'm not sure what Moses is doing, but I bet he gets special treatment.

Rian took one of the four travel trailers back to Lake Alan Henry Friday, then home to Shallowater Saturday. He has been cleaning and fixing on it in preparation for a family excursion to Roaring Springs next week.

Don't ask me why, but Rian has always like this travel trailer.

Enough for now. Hope you had a day!

FATHER, heal our hearts. Work YOUR plan in and for us! To YOU be the glory!