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REUNION 2008
by Carla
Well thirty years
have come and gone since we started this reunion! How could that
possibly be? I guess we were all just having so much fun through the
years that we didn’t even notice it sneaking up on us!
It has been quite a
few years since any of my family showed up at a reunion so was very
pleased when I heard Paige and her family were coming this year,
clear from Texas; so that move on her part also brought Brent and
Linda, Travis, Carrie, and Kennedy down from North Ogden. Brent said
he had to come because if he didn’t Paige would cry! I’m sure glad
she knows how to get things like that to happen!! The North Ogden
guys arrived on Friday in good time but The Tylers’ from Texas
didn’t show up until 4 AM Saturday morning. Said Brittlyn’s plane
had been 3 hours late as she was flying in from a different
direction to meet them in Vegas. Any way when they finally got here
I hustled them all to bed as fast as I could so they could get a few
hours sleep. I figured as long as we got to the reunion in time for
dinner things would be good.
We left town a
little before 11AM with I, Brent, and Linda leading the way, as it
had been so long since the rest of them had been out there they
didn’t know quite how to get on the right trail. It was a nice cool
day with cloudy skies that would rain off and on. It started raining
on us as we were going up Quail and kept on until we were past
Wolfhole. There was very little wind that day which was wonderful as
far as I was concerned. It did get colder when we topped Quail, and
when we got to the ranch they had a fire going in the heater, which
I think was kept going all day long and felt good after being
outside for a bit.
Max and Nita were
busy cooking, I don’t know just when all that started, they may have
cooked the beef and pork at their cabin the day before. Any way it
was fine feast as usual-- the only thing missing was Tris’s dutch
oven potatoes and he wasn’t there. We sure did miss the potatoes,
but we missed him and his family more. I talked to him the other day
and he said he had encountered transportation problems and just
couldn’t make it out. Of course I ragged on him a bit and said I
sure hope you can make it next time.
For the last few
years I have neglected to make a carrot cake to take to reunion. One
year I did buy one from Costco, but that didn’t go over worth a hoot
with Harley and he complained bitterly about it. So this year after
he had not written me a school story, Max suggested that I make him
a real carrot cake and that would really lay a guilt trip on his
head. So I gave it a try; but did it work? Heck no! As Harley was
enjoying a piece of cake I asked him if he didn’t feel guilty now
about not writing me a story and he said “ no , if you had of really
loved me you would have wrote it for me!” Those guys are real
tricksters; I think they were both in on it all the time. I can just
hear them; Harley saying, “I sure wish she would make a real carrot
cake”, and Max answering, “I know just how to get her to do it”!
And he did! Now if you think I am just a conspiracy nut, and still
believe in flying saucers with little green men, you just haven’t
been around those guys very long!
When we arrived
most of the kids (all sizes) were down at the pond fishing. I asked
if they had caught enough to fry up for supper but they didn’t seem
to think that that would be a worthwhile endeavor. I am told that
there is both goldfish, gone wild, and catfish in there, but that is
just hear say I never did see one of them; however I must admit that
I don’t go to the pond very often anymore either.
Just as we were
gathering around for dinner Max said he needed to give out something
called the Sego Lily Award. So he starts off saying since this is
the first one, so he hasn’t quite decided who to give it to, so I
thought perhaps he was going to have the kids have, “a finding the
best sego lily contest”. There were quite a few in bloom out there
this year. But as he goes on and I hear him take my name in vain, I
jumped up to object; after all they had already tricked me about the
cake; so what’s to say they are not going to lay another one on me?
However he would not let me speak until he handed me the plaque that
Marge had made for me, and then I got all choked up and couldn’t
speak for a bit. I was very surprised and flabbergasted, thrilled
and appreciative. I understand that the idea came from Lee, and
Marge made the beautiful plaque and Max made the book. One of my
favorite pages in the book is the certificate of authenticity With
an Echo Piney logo on it and signed by the three Echo Piney
officers. COOOOL!! Thanks so much guys, it warmed my heart and
made all the brain strain through the last few years seem a little
more worth while.
Now I want you to
know that I did not do these books all by myself. With all three of
the books I got help from quite a few directions, and I hope that
will continue as I have started a biography of Boyd. The first half
is just going to be bio stuff and the second half is going to be
Boyd stories; and I have already heard some dooseys, and have a few
myself to relate! Now about the books already produced I want to
thank and give full credit to my editor and my publisher; namely Max
and Garn Iverson. Without their many hours of help, and hours of
patience on the part of their wives Nita and Barb; these books most
likely would never have come to fruition!! Thanks guys, maybe some
day I will learn to put in pictures all by my self, but I doubt it!
After dinner was
eaten and all taken care of, other actives began. Some of the people
had four wheelers and they were riding all over the place. Of course
all the little kids wanted to ride also and most of the big kids
were pretty congenial about taking them for rides up and down the
road and round and round. Of course Cyle is our main kid
entertainer, and every year he brings a piñata. He starts with the
smallest kids and with his helpers each kid is blindfolded and
turned abound a few times, I think how many times each on is spun
around depends on their age; once for each year old they are, or
something like that. Then they get to take a whack at the candy
filled thing until someone finally succeeds in breaking it. There
were a herd of kids there this year and their screams and laughter,
plus shouts of advice to the one “at bat” could be heard far and
wide. That is really a fun thing for those kids. They all have to
wait until all the candy falls then Cyle says go, and go they do. He
says that if each kid comes out of the pile with candy and no bumps
or bruises, he considers it a great success!
Then he had the kid
auction; I’m sure Stacey helps him with all of this. But the idea
here is they have a bunch of stuff that interest kids and each kid
is given five tickets which they can use just like money to bid on
what they want. Now a few of the kids who had never participated in
one of these events before couldn’t quite get the hang of this at
first, but Tina took care of that by putting all first-timers in
front until they got the hang of it. Soon all were in the corner
where all the action was taking place and managed to spend their
tickets in a timely way. It’s great fun for them and good experience
if you ask me. Thanks big guys you always do a great job with the
kids!
Well now it is time
for the talent show as it was called. Nita came around and informs
us that each family had to do something; even if it was just whistle
a tune. Well since I can neither whistle nor carry a tune I went
looking to my great grand kids to see what I could find. I had four
of them there to choose from being Brittlyn, Bridger, and Jadyn
Tyler, and Kennedy Cassity. However I just got the cold shoulder
from all but Jadyn and Kennedy. They both agreed to sing. Well Jadyn
about half agreed; she said I’m scared, but she would do it if I
went out and stood with her—so stood I did! All the participants
did a great job. We had everything from wrestling expo to magic
tricks. Max, who plays the mandolin, said him and his banjo playing
partner had been practicing for weeks, and then his partner shows up
without his banjo. I think his excuse was he forgot it or didn’t
have room for it, whatever it was Garn didn’t have it there, so Max
got Brad on the guitar and they sang the theme song; yep they did!
Good job guys!
Well now it is time
to see who won the candy jar and the quilts. Max and Nita had made a
beautiful quilt with all the pictures of Mom (Estella Iverson) they
could find, it was really gorgeous but it was only for display, if
you weren’t there I think you can see a picture of it on our
website; and they also had two others for the raffle. Evan Hunter
won the candy jar and Brent Hawkinson won the big quilt and Keith
and Jadyn Tyler won the little one. I think they were in partners on
it. Then the auction is always great fun, it is amazing how much an
apron and vinyl words that you rub on the wall will sell for, and
the knitted scrubbers and shadow box didn’t do bad either. I don’t
know just how much it all added up to but sure we got enough to
finance next years event!
It rained off and
on a bit that day, but not enough to keep the four-wheeler riders
and pond fishers inside for long. Brad had brought out a Porta-Potty
(like they have at construction sites) which was quite an
improvement over the old outhouse trek. Thanks Brad. Pamela and her
family didn’t arrive until quite late in afternoon so understand
they stayed over with Harleys at his cabin and all had a great time
the next day catching fish with rusty baling wire as hooks. Well
fun is fun where ever you find it, huh kids? I think everyone had a
good time, anyway I know I did; it was the most enjoyable reunion
for me in a long time. Of course some of my kids and grandkids, and
great grandkids being there had a lot to do with that, as this is
the first time they have come in quite a few years.
Now the sun is
starting to hang low in the sky, even if it was mostly behind the
clouds, and a lot of people were starting to think about leaving.
Paige and Brittlyn decided they needed to go on another little
picture taking trip though, so they did. I think they went up the
road toward Trumbull a ways and also went to Daddy Noaks grave.
There was lots of picture taking, and I have great hopes that you
all will be able to see them on the website before too long. Now it
is really time to start down the road, some people had already left.
So my group loaded up and off we went. There were three cars of us;
as the Tylers had flew from Austin to Vegas and rented a car there.
Brent and Linda had driven down from Ogden on Friday and the
Cassitys also a little later that day. So the two of them took off
and just left me and Brent and Linda in their dust (oh I forgot
there was no dust that day) Anyway off they went as they knew the
way back now.
When we got to
Little Tank we could see that they had made a detour over to the
school house to take pictures but we just kept going on down the
road so now they were behind us. Just after we had crossed the
cattle-guard at the head of Main Street (if you don’t know where
that is you should come to the reunion more often) we started seeing
a white SUV in front of us. As we got closer it looked a little
wobbly on the back left tire. Brent said I think they are getting a
flat tire, Linda looked and said I’m sure they are getting a flat
tire; but the car kept going but it did slow down a bit. Then Brent
said there is rubber flying off the tire. I said honk at them, so
honk he did and then put on a little more speed and pulled up beside
them just as they pulled to a stop. Well by that time the tire was
smoking. It was Stacey and Barb in the car. I said to Stace, hey
girl don’t you know you have a flat tire? She said I thought there
was something funny going on. Then we pulled on up in front of her
and Brent bailed out and said, “Where is your tire iron”. Well the
tire iron appeared quickly and Brent started loosen the lug nuts,
then began a discussion as to just where the jack might be, and if
found just how it worked (this is a fairly new vehicle, probably
never had a flat before) Barb got the instructions out of glove box
and began reading them. About this time Keith and his crew caught up
with us and stopped with Travis right behind him so they both got
out and jumped in there to help. I tell you there were jacks, ruined
tire, and spare tire moving from spot to spot pretty fast there.
Of course these
three guys had plenty of on lookers and advice givers, as we had all
got out of our vehicles, as we certainly didn’t want to miss
anything! It wasn’t too much longer before Brad and Chrissy and their
crew pulled up and joined the group. We had passed them down near
Diamond Butte where they had stopped for one last four-wheeler ride.
Then soon here comes Paul and Anita and a couple of their kids I
think they left the two oldest out with Harleys and Pamela’s family
for the night. Anyway now we certainly have enough for a mini
farewell reunion at the head of Main Street. It could remind a
person of the old joke just how many dodos does it take to change a
light bulb; but in this case a flat tire at an Iverson reunion!
Well by now it is changed and the hot tire installed back in the
spare tire holder, and we re thinking on getting everyone loaded up
and taking off again, when who should appear from the back of the
parade but Cyle. He had been driving Garn’s car. But we all gave him
what for anyway—saying sure now you show up, when all the fun stuff
is over! (In case you don’t know Stacey is Cyle’s wife and Barb his
mom.)
Well now we are on
the road again with at least three of the outfits in front of us so
we just drifted along and enjoyed the scenery until it got dark on
us which was somewhere around Wolfhole. It had rained pretty good
sometime during that day from the lower end of Main Street to about
the top of Quail so there were lots of mud places in the road.
However I think every one made it home fine with no worst for wear
than very muddy vehicles; which we all look at as a plus on the
Arizona Strip.
It was a fine
reunion and thanks to Max and Nita and family for being the leaders
this year. You did good! I don’t know who is in charge for next year
we will have to get that info from those Echo Piney officers, as that
is their job!
Sure hope we see
you all there. Love, Carla
P.S.
There were 61
family members present this year and four visitors dropped by for a
brief visit bringing the total attendance to 65. As I look back
through the newsletters I see that even though we have had more in
attendance some years, this was not a bad attendance year at all.
Thanks to all of you who made the effort to come and we sure want
all those who could not make it to know that we missed you.
Max
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