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REUNION REPORT
2006
I went to the ranch with Max and Nita; they
were kind enough to stop by for me Saturday morning as my car was
broke. We then stopped by Paul’s place out in Little Valley as they
had gone out on Friday night and had forgotten some important
supplies that were sorely needed. After Max found the items we did
have a short discussion as to whether we should empty the contents
and put in a substitute-- but we didn’t really have anything good to
put in. Now if we had of only had some old used broken shutters
that would have been just right, as when Boyd was here he always saw
to it that Anita (Mrs. Paul) always got something real nice like
that for Christmas.
However we were a little late and seeing
nothing of equal value at hand off we went toward the Strip. When we
got to Hayrock Nita spotted Chris and Brad off on the old road –so
we backed up to see what was what—they had only stopped for a Kodak
moment, so Max decided to drive on through on that old road back
into the main drag. I TOLD him there is a 30 foot cliff over there,
you can’t drive off of that—but did he listen to me, no way….Well
when to his chagrin he was backing out of that quarter of a mile
rut, I didn’t say a word, I just felt fortunate that he had not
tried to make his own road down the cliff, as according to Nita back
in his younger days he had been known to make new roads down the
side of the Grand Canyon.
Well we arrive at the ranch safe and sound;
however the wind had also arrived. It was at least at hurricane
category force #2. If the pond had of had enough water in it we
may have been caught in a tsunami.
Tris was there when we arrived with two of his
grandsons-it was also Tris’ birthday, he didn’t want to talk about
how old he was- so we just let that slide, after all some things are
best just left alone.
Most of Harley’s crew had been out there since
Friday night, and they have a snug cabin on the hill so we didn’t
see most of them until a little later in the morning. They told us
Lorene’s family said that unless the wind quite blowing they were
not coming—but they did brave it and came. I was sure glad too
because Lorene knew some good answers to Lee’s A-Z Quiz. We will
tell you more about that later (We you say?? Yes we-- as Cyle is
the one who asked me to help HIM do this!!)
Chris was the only one to take this test in a
serious vane, other than Tris, but Tris was at a disadvantage as he
was the first one that got it, and completed his, before the rest of
those mischief makers got there. The only rule I gave them was they
couldn’t ask Me, Harley, Garn, or Max, (Duard wasn’t there)
otherwise they could seek help from anyone they wanted, including
Paul’s neighbors.
The story that I heard about Paul’s neighbors
was that when Paul’s kids spread the news around the neighborhood
that there was to be a family reunion on The Arizona Strip— the
neighbor kids said well we have never been to such an event, so were
promptly invited. Two families I think-- Paul introduced me to one
family as The Jones that they were trying to keep up with---Whatever
they were invited and that was good.
Lorene hurled a piece of hard candy at the
adult Jones man-- but it missed him—and it bounced off the table.
Some one said good thing you didn’t hit him, or we might be open to
a lawsuit. Someone else asked-- why is he a lawyer? Lawyer!! Good
Grief. We thought the only lawyer ever to come to the A-Z was safely
tucked away in Chile!
No, says someone, he is not a lawyer, he is an
eye doctor---Whew what a relief! I think he had on his safety
goggles any way, as I heard he had rode his motorcycle over to
Russell Spring.
Now why would our sweet little Lorene do such a
thing??? It seems that Pamela had met Dr. Jones the night before,
and she told him she was the youngest sister, so when Lorene arrived
at the reunion the next day, Dr. Jones says, oh you must be the
older sister. I think Lori let this smolder for a while before she
decided to start firing missiles of “Werthers Originals” at
him. In any case--- alls well that ends well, and all ended
well, reunion and all.
Garn brought his banjo, and Max his mandolin.
Brad had his guitar and Mason his fiddle. Dr. Jones had his
harmonica and his two kids a boy about 12 and the girl looked to be
9 or so-- they also brought their fiddles and could they play –wow-
you should have heard them do. Orange Blossom Special. That was a
special treat, pun intended!
Max, Garn, and Brad tuned up on our theme song
with Hal and Nita singing lead, and the rest of us joining in here
and there. Dr. Jones joined them with his harmonica to fill in any
missing gaps—he was real good at that. Then they coaxed a couple
of songs out of Emily—now that little gal can sing. She sang
Wildwood Flower and Red River Valley.
In a few years American Idol look out, here
comes Emily!
Garn had a small bandage on his neck, and
someone asked him what happened. He said he cut himself shaving, and
I accepted that.
Now it is about dinner time and most of us were
in the house as the weather was so fearsome outside. Garn did a
head count and said he thought about 50 were there.
At an Iverson reunion it’s kinda hard to get
their attention all at the same time. After a bit of sssh, sssh,
which didn’t do much good, Brad cut right to the point and announced
in a very hearable voice—BE QUIET, we are going to talk to God. It
was amazing-- silence descended just like turning off a switch. Then
Hal asked a heartfelt blessing, and shortly after that the eating
began.
The food was great as usual. Max had slow
cooked both beef and pork. I think him and Nita also did the dutch-oven
potatoes. Harley’s family brought mac and cheese which all the kids
love; I think it was Garn’s family that brought good relish trays
and different kinds of home-made dip and other stuff. This year all
I took was cookies and I bought them at Albertsons (the old energy
just aint what it used to be) Anita had also brought cookies so we
had plenty. Then of course we had hand-cranked ice cream. All in
all it was a festive feast.
Oh before I end here and it is Cyle’s turn I
must tell that Tay (Miss Iverson) won the jelly-bean jar guess. She
guessed the number right on the nose. Well she was all excited and
ready to stash away her spoils when someone told her she had to
share. First she appealed to her dad and he said what ever your mom
says you have to do! Well mom said she had to share. I really wanted
to offer to be her attorney pro-bono and plead her case that she
should perhaps be allowed to enjoy the thrill of victory for at
least an hour while she thought over the sharing situation
She kept saying, but I won it fair and
square! Did that move the judge? Nope! Now had I stepped up to
be her mouth-piece I could have asked the judge to consider that
even without her sharing her victory jar, there was enough candy
around there to keep half the dentists in St. George busy for at
least six months. However being only Tay’s great aunt I remained
quiet—maybe in my defense I had been spooked by that lawyer threat
earlier in the day! Sorry Taylor! I really thought you should
have been allowed to savor for a while before sharing.
The reunion was great and I hope to see you
all next year. The end-- Carla
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