Every year when winter has lost its harsh grip and the days turn sunny and warm in the South, the Morgan cousins gather at the old homestead in rural Alabama, way out in the middle of no where. This year's reunion will be number six. There is the Pensacola contingent, the Jacksonville contingent, the Andalusia contingent, and then there is me, the lone Yankee who makes the two-day trip!
We gather on land that has been in our family for over a hundred years. My dad and his siblings were raised on this land. My grandfather was a prosperous cotton farmer decades ago. I remember some of the last of the cotton plants on the land that were still producing cotton when I was barely school age.
I arrive on a Thursday, tired after two long days of driving, but excited about the fun times ahead. The small town doesn't have more than the usual chain restaurant fare, so I cook for everyone on Thursday and Friday night. Last year my crock pot beef stew was a crowd pleaser. Thursday night, usually, is just me and Pam and Aunt Ileen. . . she is 92 this year and still going strong. Friday morning, Bobbie and Kenny come in from Lake Butler, near Jacksonville, and we head over to the land. Kenny and I are avid gun enthusiasts and we have fun target shooting and showing off our guns. The stories get bigger every year.
Saturday is the big day with the rest of the gang arriving. It is a relaxing, stress free, get-away-from-it-all time. We walk the land, shoot guns, enjoy a pot luck feast, take pictures, whatever we want to do. And all too quickly, the few days that we look forward to all year, are over for another year.
See you soon, Cousins!
Is it that time again already! Wonderful! Have a blast and don't forget to take some pictures to share with us here. :)
ReplyDeleteWarm hugs from Port Canaveral,
Lois :)