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This year the reunion started for me on April 15th
when a group of workers went to the ranch to implement phase one of Garns
dream plan! Quite a bunch showed up for this event. Those there were, Garn
Clye, Max, Brad, Evan, Harley, Paul Boyd, Ferg, Coal, Lyle, Matthew, Arnie,
and Carla. Now do you see anything unusual about this list?
Bet some of you said,
“ Yeah. Arnie was there!”
Wrong—I was the only girl there—that was it!
Boyd being very adverse to eating bologna sandwiches
had brought all the makings for a fine country meal. So while they all
implemented, I cooked.
At the end of the day things looked really good and
all the weary workers had had a swell time. Anyway me and Matt sure did!
May 13th was house cleaning day, and
implementation of phase two. This time the crew is slightly diminished
from the first bunch, but two new ones arrived, which more than
compensated for the loss! Barb
and Tessa were there!
The house cleaning went as cleaning always goes-with
Ferg, the kids, and me Barb all pitching in. Cooking went well also. Boyd
had again provided, so Ferg cooked and we all feasted.
Now in regard to phase two- seems there was a small
engineering problem. I over heard someone say to another worker, “Well
if you would have come out here and measured the distance between the
holes, this wouldn’t have happened!”
“Now we will have to do things that we didn’t really want to
do. Ok get out the tools and give it another go –round!”
“Take off the roof-- are you kiddin’ me.
It’s the holes that don’t fit, what the heck has that got to do
with the roof?”
Beats me! I didn’t know either, so I went back in
the house where it was safe.
Did I mention that the wind was blowing? Some time
around mid-morning it had surpassed hurricane force, and now was nearing
inner-funnel tornado velocity.
One of the kids dashed into the house, and using some
unique and colorful words and phraseology, told us what had just happened
out side. I listened and translated it to mean, “Uncle Garns hat blew
down the hole!” It was
later learned that Bill’s services had been offered to go down headfirst
and retrieve it. But Garn said no, he’s just have to sacrifice his very
favorite hat to the cause.
And Garn's hat wasn’t the only casualty of that
sanitary facility project. I
wasn’t going to tell on them-but one of them accused me of getting
senile-so now I’m gonna tell!
One of the govies endangered rodent pets made the
mistake of getting in their way. The mistake was fatal! See how it works
guys? You just got to learn to treat me with more respect!
While Bills talents were passed up on going down
holes, they were utilized for better things. Garn had locked his keys
inside his trailer house. (I want it noted here that at this point I
didn’t make any remarks about senility!)
Garn's trailer house is very well built—no big
holes anywhere. But there was one little bitty hole toward the back. The
question was-was that hole big enough to cram Bill through? There was no
question about Bill being adventurous enough to tackle it! He soon
wriggled through there, which put him into the inter-sanctum of the
trailer under a built in bunk bed. Eureka! Door open, keys
retrieved…..Good job, Bill!
May 27th Reunion day.
The greenery and wild flowers were abundant. The weather cool,
calm, and beautiful. Just couldn’t have been much better.
Family dinner and Saturday night supper went as
usual. Lots of good food, and hearty appetites.
Who was there you ask? Well here is how it added up.
Lees- 0 (where were you Lee Alan?) Duard’s-10,
Carla’s-14 (most I ever had) Harley’s- 14 Garn’s -2 Boyd's- 4
Mary’s 16 Max’s 16. Boyd, Mary, and Max all had 100% attendance.
Harley would have been in that category also, except Brett and Shamane got
detained some where between Pine Valley and the ranch. I think it had
something to do with a car.
Car trouble seemed to be popular this year. Craig had
a problem and Harley and Mike both had to leave theirs by the roadside and
hitch-hike! Seems like this
happened once before a few years ago—it must run in cycles, like chicken
pox.
There were some brand-new babies there, all of them
just cute and sweet. Tina and
Kevin had new baby Ellis, Chrissie and Brad, with baby Emily, Kristina and
David with baby Casey. Cyle
and Stacey were also there with new baby Mitchell (in spirit). Gotcha Cyle!
You thought I was really gonna’ rag on you, didn’t ya? We really
missed you guys!
Saturday night there was a tremendous bonfire. It was
still burning Sunday morning. That same evening there was a program and
auction-which was Cyle’s idea-and it worked out just great.
Each child received eight dollars of
“reunion money” with which to bid. It was interesting watching
their strategy in obtaining the things they wanted. When one of them bid
ten dollars, I said, “you
don’t have enough money to do that!”
Well he certainly did have enough; he had borrowed some from his
buddy! They pooled and
borrowed and dickered back and forth.
Kurt had brought what proved to be the most popular
item, a large container of gummy bears, whatever they are, their appeal
led Paul to open the jar and auction them by the handful. It was all great
fun, and the kids seemed to love it. Good idea Cyle!
Winner of the candy jar guess was Misty, age six. Her
older sister Wynter won the horse quilt. They along with their parents and
sister Ashley had journeyed from California to attend the reunion. It
seemed a long, long way to Misty. She kept asking,
“Are we there yet?” Her
last query before arrival was,
“Are we still in America?”
Yeah Misty, in spite of some remarks and references
through the years to old Mexico, the Arizona Strip is still in America!
Perhaps what prompted this question was the dim distant reaches of
infant memories, when on her only other trip to the reunion, at the tender
age of nine months, she got dunked in a number two tub of very cold water.
Her mother thought that was the way bathing was done out here in the old
west!
Once again a, “reunioner of the year,” was
selected. Bet you are all just sitting on the edge of your seat wondering
who? Well, no more
suspense—it is Peggy. Our Peggy you ask? The one, who hates dirt, bugs,
and camping out, worse than having a root canal? Sure enough the same and
only! She not only camped out overnight, but was also the ringleader of
the group that climbed Diamond Butte the next day. I do have all the facts
straight here, don’t I Peg?
Let it be known that among that troop of Butte
climbers was 21 month old Taylor (Willard) daughter of Paul and Anita who
was declared to be the youngest adventurer too ever reach the apex.
The rest of the climbing party was made up of Jeff,
Ashley, Bob, Nicki and Ed. Accompanying them was three dogs. There was Ed
and Taylor’s time-share dog. Bob and Nicki also had theirs along, and
then there was Peggy’s dog.
After they got back to camp here is Paul’s story
about Peggy’s dog. He said, “It ledged up on the way down the butte.
It whined and whimpered, and carried on something awful, until I had to
climb all the way back and get it. Because it is stupid, yes stupid!”
Now Ashley’s reply to this was, “that
dog is not stupid, it was only scared!”
Paul: “No its stupid, plain and simple stupid!”
Third party: “Ashley
you don’t have to listen to Paul.”
Ashley (with a sigh) “I
never do.” End of dog story?
Not quite, I heard a rumor that the over-nighters at Camp Ohno
decided to pitch in so Peggy could take Dog to a vet shrink. Did you get any money yet Peggy?
Sunday morning Ferg cooked breakfast, with Barb and
me as helpers. There was bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and pancakes for all
comers.
Only a portion of us had stayed overnight. Max who
usually always stays over didn’t this time because of very young
grandbabies. Kevin and Tina had braved it with their wee one, being just
three weeks old.
However in this department Paula is still the champ
having shown up and pitched a tent back in 1983 when Kelli was just two
weeks. That was after a home delivery too. Hey, these city girls are
tougher than they look!
Paige traveled the greatest distance to be there this
year. She came from Jacksonville Fla. where she is stationed at the time.
She will soon be sent to Guatanamo Naval Hospital to work for six months.
As Kurt was leaving he called, “Have
fun in Cuba Paige—say hi to Fidel.”
There’s one in every crowd
Most of us left the ranch Sunday afternoon or
evening. A few stayed another night. Jamie and his kids stayed another
couple of days.
After it was all said and done it was a good reunion
Garn and Boyd put it on.
Next
year Mary and Max will set the stage.
SEE YOU THERE
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