Family Reunion 2023 (from my eyes)

REUNION: Multiple generations of a family gathering for 4 to 5 hours, every year or two. These members were all in some way related to the oldest members of the family at the time of the group’s inception. In our case it was Harold and Margaret Towne.

My Dad (Harold) was a nursing assistant at the VA hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin for over 30 years. He drove church bus, gardened with the horse and plow. He also polished many shoes on Saturday night, or Sunday Morning.  

But he was probably best known for his ability to make anything run. He always used, out of necessity, whatever he had, and made it work. It wasn’t always pretty. He used to say, somewhat tongue and cheek.  “If you are going down the road, and a new noise begins, don’t worry, keep driving, however if one of the old noises stop, you probably should pull over, and check it out.”

But over, and above his job, planting, fixing cars, polishing shoes was his love for my mom and Jesus.

He was a hardworking man. His hands were calloused, knuckles were skinned, but on Sunday, he would lift them before the Lord in worship.

My Mom (Margaret) cooked, cleaned, washed lots of laundry and many other things to care for 19 children. She gave birth to 20, lost one (Doris) a week after birth. She enjoyed embroidering and singing.  As I look back what I remember making her beam the brightest, was teaching Sunday School class for adults. She was a very good teacher. I remember enjoying her teaching even as a young teen.

 For both my parents Margaret and Harold Towne, Sunday was their favorite day of the week. (They both checked out of this earth ..on a Sunday)

Of the remaining 15 children left, 12 live in Wisconsin, 1 in Iowa, 1 in Indiana and 1 in Illinois. None fell too far from the orchard. So on the second Saturday in August each year, we meet at the hall in Wilton, Wisconsin for our family reunion. This year there were 12.  Myself and 11 of my siblings

There always seems to be this time at each reunion, about 11:30. It looks like there isn’t much food, and the attendance will be low. Then it happens!  The door opens, and they begin to file in, with their very large crock pots, and big green Tupperware bowls. Suddenly there is about 100 people, and enough food to feed almost twice that many. This year was no exception.  The count with children, grands, greats, and spouses was 94.

A few cousins, friends. Even one man from the nearby park and pool came and filled his plate. We all assumed someone knew him. He filled his plate and said “Thought it wouldn’t hurt to make myself a plate. So he did. Said “Thank you” and left. We all laughed. Really wouldn’t have been any different, if he would have asked. 😊 Except someone would probably have filled him a couple plates , and carried them back for him 😊

Covid for us, like for so many others, kind of put us off our center, but we are leveling out again. I think our reunion music has taken the biggest hit. It used to be the highlight of our reunion. Age and health have been factors, but as for many things someone needs to have a passion and desires to get it revived. I guess I should work on that. 😊

My brother Dick bought his guitar, in hopes that it wouldn’t be the only one there. He and I sang for a few minutes before the others came. Several of the older ones play instruments (mostly guitars) me included. There are also banjos, fiddles, harmonicas and keyboard.

Physically is not as easy, to say the least. I can sing, or I can play guitar, but I can no longer do both at the same time.  

Each year myself and my siblings, as well as some of their families’ members bring items or a basket of items, for the auction. The money raised every year goes to rent the hall, buy meat, beverages and paper products for the following year. We have a lot of fun with it. We have new things, old things, memorable things, hand made things and some just stuff 😊

Every year there is The thing! The one item that outsells them all. Usually not for its monetary value, but for what it represents, or who’s it was. This may sound morbid to some, but this year it was the large American flagged that draped our dad’s coffin, to honor his service in WWII.

The caveat for the flag was that you get it for only 1 year. Next year it will go back in the auction for rebids. We have several vets that served in Iraq and Afghanistan in our family, as well as Viet Nam Vets.

So there was a friendly, “this is my year to take the flag home“  competition. It raised $150. Tears of laughter, tears of joy.

This year I took a painting, I had done of a guitar. I also took a basket full of painting supplies. Mostly things I had bought through the years, or someone had given me. The only thing I bought new for the basket was a set of 12 acrylic paints. My painting went for $21, and the basket for $45. I said next year I will just bring paint supplies; they can paint their own picture. 😊 I enjoyed doing the painting. Painting is one of my happy places. My nephew bought it for his guitar wall. So it will be enjoyed.

After 25 years people have kind of fallen into their spots. We each find our comfortable place to serve. So many spots to fill. But our family can set it up and take it down pretty fast.

For many years my husband and I have sat by the door where we could greet each one and sell auction paddles. Then when it was over we collected money. Jim’s empty chair did not go unnoticed. I could have moved it, but I didn’t want to. Different people would sit and chat for a minute. It was good. A couple people would comment to them “you know your setting in Jim’s chair? 😊☹

We have so much fun with the auction. As well as helping with the cost of the reunion, the auction gives us opportunities to pass some things down that meant a lot to us, for others to enjoy.

But I feel like the auction is something we do. But music is who we are. Music soothes our bodies, our minds, and our souls. It always felt good to leave the reunion with a soothed soul.

Blessings! Thanks for reading.

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A few quotes:

*    “Music in the soul can be heard by the entire universe.”  Lao Tzu

*    “After silence, that which comes the closest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”  Aldous Huxley

*    “Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to imagination and life to everything.”  Plato