05.27.08 Redneck Reunion In Pictures.
As soon as Ben and I drove home from a conference in North Carolina on Friday morning, Becky and the kids and I packed the van and headed to Texas for a family reunion at my Aunt Janie’s house just outside San Augustine. It’s a beautiful place - rolling wooded hills, undeveloped land that goes on for miles, cows and horses and deer and the occasional home.
This reunion thing happens every year but, because the plan for it is usually nailed down long after I’ve booked my Summer full, I haven’t been to this shindig in - gosh - six years and maybe more. Enough time has passed that my cousins - last hugged by me when they were in high school or college - have kids of their own now. My aunts are looking more like my grandmother - the way I remember her when I was little. My Uncles are retired or headed that way shortly. A lot has changed. But one thing hasn’t. There’s still a loot of laughter belted out and stories told when we all get together.
Here are some of the better pictures I grabbed over the weekend.
This is Carter, cousin Sarah’s charismatic boy. He’s very photogenic but doesn’t stand still for long. This is the only shot out of about fifty that wasn’t blurry.
And here’s my mom. Like Bigfoot, she’s been seen by many and photographed by only the stealthiest of photographers.
Same thing with my sister, Lindy. She doesn’t age. Must be a health benefit of being five feet tall - something about the altitude difference I’m sure.
The kids spent a lot of time at Aunt Janie’s and Uncle’s Jame’s pond. The thing is full of “mosquito fish” and perch. This is my Dad (aka Geedaddy) on the pond with my son, Gresham.
The swarm of kids at the reunion must have caught two-hundred fish and put them in all of Aunt Janie’s tupperware. The mortality rate for said fish was high.
Gresham didn’t want to help his cousin, Kimbry, catch fish. So he told here there were snakes in the water that would eat her. She didn’t fish much after that.
Of course, what redneck family reunion would be complete without watermelon?
And burnin’ stuff.
And a swimming pool?
And a big back porch?
And a golf cart with a blower mounted on top for outdoor AC? Everyone has one of these right? Right??
We’re staying in today, catching up on e-mails and cleaning. Gresham says he’s bored. He wants to live in Texas. Me too.
Amanda said:
Beautiful pictures—what a fun time! I love your comment on no redneck family reunion being complete without watermelon and burnin’ stuff because there is so much truth to that it’s embarassing.
Your post made me think about how my family hasn’t scheduled a reunion in probably 10 years. As the older folks started dying, the younger folks never stepped up. It may be high time I schedule one. Thanks for the post!
Linda Sue said:
Texas would love to have you back here - Gresham and you could bring your daddy too. We have watermelon, burn stuff whenever possible and have real fireworks for sale for the 4th of July and New Year’s - woo Hoo - the good life.
Aaron Shust said:
homie! i don’t know if you read the buried comments on previous posts...but i loved this one: with the pics and the family. Wonderful. I spent Mem Day on a cross country flight, grateful for the work, but missed my family’s reunion. :(
Funnel Cake (or fried oreos!) sounds good to me! Looking fw to seeing you again! (have i told you that i got to break the news to Mr Smith about your song, that he allegedly didn’t know about? I made sure he realized it was respectful, but hilarious
)
peace
Shaun Groves said:
I read everything, Mr.Shust. Glad I found your blog today. Thanks for stopping by mine.
Funnel cake it is then. I’m sure we’ll cross paths once again at some festival this Summer.
No, you did not tell me you spilled the beans to Mr.Smith about his - ahem, tribute. I have to hear that story. Over funnel cake I guess.
said:
You just likened your mother to Bigfoot.
anon4him said:
Me 3! Except for maybe the mosquitoes.
I absolutely love the pictures! You have a beautiful family ^_^
Shawn said:
Shaun, Love the pics. Especially the AC Golf Cart! Pretty “Cool”!
Thanks for stopping by my Blog yesterday.
said:
Thanks for the compliment bro, I needed that today!
Now I’m off to the skating rink with about 300 3rd graders, to celebrate the last week of school. I wonder if they have any blue pom poms with the little bells in them, that I could wear with my skates??? Brings back memories. Love you.
Rachel said:
Somehow I ended up in Coweta, Oklahoma for Memorial Day. We sure could have used one of those golf cart/AC contraptions! I’m not so sure how I feel about the swiftly arriving Oklahoma summer (it’s my first full one).
Amazing shots. The watermelon ones are particularly adorable.
said:
Shaun..thank you for the pics. Seems like it was a magical time, sweet memories for all of your family.
Love, Barb
Amber said:
Hi! I’ve been lurking for months, but this post brought back so many wonderful memories of family reunions at my Great Grandparent’s summer home in the mountains that I just had to comment.
You have a knack for catching beautiful ‘life moments’ on camera. Great shots!
Mandy said:
Those are some amazing pictures! You really captured your family well! I especially love the outdoor AC on the golf cart...hilarious.
Thanks for sharing!
said:
Hey Shaun - thanks for the cute picture of Carter - he was quite excited to see himself too. We had a great time seeing you and everyone else. Hope to see you again soon - Love ya,
Sara, Moose, and Carter
Shaun Groves said:
That’s right, folks. I have relatives named Moose. There’s also an aunt Cookie and an Aunt Stinky. And did I mention a fan mounted atop a golf cart?
Sara, good to see you too. Pics are coming in the mail.
said:
Hey Shaun! I was reading Uncle Joel’s email and he told me about the family reunion pictures. They are great! We hated that we couldn’t attend. TC was graduating from 8th grade. Pretty wild! Hopefully we can make the next one! I enjoyed reading all of the info on the page! Take care! Say hello to your family for me! Love ya!