The Annual Family Reunion on the Lane!

 If you have reread our Blog from 23 August 2023 as we asked you to in our last Blog, you will have a rough idea of the family reunion on the lane. 

We all, that is us Bears, Brec and our BBF arrived on the Lane on Friday afternoon. What has changed since we last wrote about the Lane is that Brec and Sandy hoped to acquire the big house at the end. They are in contact with the cousins that own it and consequently have taken possession of  it and we must say worked really hard to bring out it’s best character. 

The photo does to do justice to the house which extends behind. We realise now that our BBF did not take any pictures of other angles or of the inside, except this one:

Out side the room Alan occupied was a bench with a couple of new friends for us Bears.

When they arrived Brec’s younger brother John was talking to neighbours, having just mowed the lawn.

John is the brother who maintains the whole family tree which each year he pins on his shed for all to see.

After  catching up with cousins who lived in the Lane Alan and Brec need to find somewhere to eat. On the way they found John digging a whole on the family grave plot for the ashes of Mildred (103) who had passed away recently. Aunt Mildred was Bruce’s mother and that side of the family had decided to scatter part of her ashes in the sea at the end of the Lane at Dawn on Saturday and to bury the rest on the family plot. 

The ground was rock hard so John was having a tough time of it, but none of the Morgans ever give up so he managed it eventually. Our humans left him to it and went to a local diner for a meal.

At 10:00hrs the next morning the whole family met in the Funeral Parlour to say farewell to Dan one of the Cousins whom we Bears sat with when we were here last. (See our Blog of 23 Aug 2023)! It was a very moving service and many members of the family got up to say how they remembered him and how they would miss him. Thereafter they drove in procession with four way flashers flashing through red lights even to the cemetery where a small internment ceremony took place.

Afterwards everyone was invited to a wake in a hostilely near by.

Duty done our humans returned to the Lane to change and to prepare for the family picnic the next day. Because of the two internments this year promised to be a full house.

Sandy was on the Lane when they returned. She like us had not seen the house since two years ago and was also pleased at how nice it now looked after having been empty and neglected for so many years.

Sandy went and chatted to her sister-in-law and while Alan sat on Laura’s ( Brec’s daughter’s) back porch and emailed. Brec worked in the yard and cleared out the shed. Our humans now went to have chilli dinner on Laura’s front porch together with John and his wife Barbara who had made the meal.

 

On the Saturday before the Sunday Reunion  there is always a bonfire for those that arrive early. This year it was really well attended due to the various funerals. Thanks to Cousin Julie who kept stoking the fire and John who brought the logs it was the best bonfire for sometime. It was a nice warm evening as they all chatted about Don, no longer with us, but the memories were bright and fresh. Bruce, in whose yard the fire was provided the forks and marshmallows, biscuits and chocolates to make “s’mores” as well as a non alcoholic punch which he said would put hairs on your chest! As the stars came out and the fire died down people began to drift off for the night.

Sunday morning our BBF was up early to make coffee and Brec was up early to drive to Dunkin’ Doughnuts for Boston Cream doughnuts which our BBF loves.

By the time our BBF got to the breakfast on the beach a few had already left. Alan had his Boston Cream and enjoyed the view and company.

The actual picnic always takes place in front of Laura’s house where we all stayed two years ago. Like last time John hung up the huge family tree and gave out the name badges. Once everyone had arrived Bruce rang the cow bell to call all to order Roy said a prayer and led the Doxology after which the buffet was open.

 

Friendships between distant cousins were renewed and family happenings since the last picnic shared. Later when everybody had eaten enough they adjourned to the beach. As in 2018 when we were here Alan had the use of a blow up dinghy. Mark helped him carry it to the beach. 

Roy had stated that he wanted to swim to Grass Rock this year as well. Most people were concerned for his safety as he is now 92 years young. 

Here you see the swimmers and a couple of them had rubber rings for safety. One woman had a ring she could sit in which was the blue one you see in the photo.

Alan was the major safety person  and wore a life jacket in the dinghy as per regulations.

As it is he found  the dinghy difficult to row as it had no keel. Close to Grass Rock it was clear that Roy was pooped and he said he was going to swim back. He refused to get in the dinghy with our BBF and now had difficulty swimming in the right direction. Brec became consequently the main life saver holding Roy to his cheat while Roy had one hand on the bow of the dinghy and the other on large rubber ring. Other swimmers stayed nearby. Even so it was difficult maintaining direction, but with Alan paddling they finally managed to get Roy on to the beach.

 Alan now slowly rowed back to the main beach where the old codger had great difficulty getting out of the beached dinghy. He fell out into the water rather than stepping out and one of the family helped him stand up. Mark then was there to help our BBF carry the dinghy back to where it belonged. Brec once Roy was safe and well with another family member swam back out and finally stood on Grass Rock.

 

Sandy had left early to drive to Maine. The men on returning had showers and threw their wet things in the washer and dryer. For an evening meal they drove out to Niantic and had fish at Skippers Restaurant. They returned to the house on the Lane and sat for a while before going to bed. Tomorrow would be another day.