Family Reunions: Name Game Suggestons Needed

[AKA2D '91]

It seems to be a tradition in the AA community where there is a family reunion each year or every other year or every few years. Since it's almost summer, I'm sure family members around the country are preparing for this summer's reunion.

Questions:
1. Does your family get together? Family meaning EVERYONE, not just immediate family.
2. If so, when? where? Does it tend to rotate from city to city?
3. If the answer to #1 is yes, share with us some of those craziest moments. I know someone has a story we are dying to hear/see.

[CountryGurl]

Since I just recently (Memorial Day Weekend) attended ONE of this summer's Family Reunions then I'll go first.


My paternal side of the family always has a reunion every summer. Everyone from Grandparents to 10th cousins attend.
My maternal side is not that tight which is sad since they (see even I don't say we) are so small and live in the same area.

The reunion usually take place in the same town (village- its really small) around Memorial Day or Fourth of July weekend.

Sorry I don't have anything extra funny to tell

[kitten03]

the family USED to get together...it was nice when we had them though..

they were usually in one city b/c we all seem to be around there

well we no longer have family reunions after a host of issues. one..the reunion was hijacked from one organizing committee by another organizing committee which of course split those groups into waring factions

two...the hijakers placed a ban on plate taking(the timeless tradition of taking 89 plates of food home after the reunion) citing that ppl shouldn't take food b/c late people (the hijackers family) would not get any food.

it really wasn't funny b/c everyone left pissed off and we havent had one since

[NOWorNEVER]

Yeah, my family (father's side) meets every year for a weekend. It's pretty large....over 150 family members. We always go to Pinehurst, NC every other year because it's where the oldest members reside and they can't really travel. The alternating locations, we always vote on. We've been to Maryland, DC, Charlotte, Virginia, New York, and Georgia. We usually have a theme each year that the reunion committee comes up with. There's always T shirts and a thick booklet of the family tree. The reunion is usually very organized and includes a picnic, banquet or brunch, some kind of activity in the city, shopping, family choir rehersal, attending church together, and eating again before departing.
Sorry, nothing funny to tell either although we always have a great time. My father's side are pretty decent people, ministers, pastors, etc. Not at all ghetto, although I wish something would break out.

[Eclipse]

My materal materal family (yeah, I said materal twice, in other words, my mother's mother's family) gets together every year. It's always the 3rd Saturday in August, the Saturday before "Homecoming" at the traditional family church. Sad to say, I haven't been in the past 2 or 3 years, but I'm definately going this year. We've had a few deaths in the family and I don't want to have anyone else leave this earth without me seeing them. There are usually about 100 people there. The "family" consists of the decendants of my great, great grandparents. I doubt the true "kin-ness" of some of them. We have folks who were married to a distant cousin back in the day who come with the new spouse and children talking bout "Chile, you know we still family!". Any adult cousin over 50 is called "Cuddin" (cousin) as in "Cuddin Sallie Mae". Folks typically bring their own food and (sometimes) share desserts. (I do have one aunt though that always wants to "go in with somebody" and her contribution is a can of green peas!) Even though we family I ain't eating everybody's potato salad and I don't trust some of them enough to give 'em $20 for the food! LOL There is usually someone who has just gotten out of jail, or someone missing who just went to jail. We have a lot of fun laughing and talking--it's not organized anymore than "We gon meet at so and so park. Get there early so we can get some good tables.
Who gon bring the cards? Who got some bones?? (dominos) That side of the family is a trip!!


My father's family has a reunion ever other year. That side of the family tends to be a bit more organized. We have it in a different city each time, based on the "branch" of the family that organizes it. My dad's family is pretty large, even though we can only really go back as far as my grandparents. Unfortunately, I have found that as of late the folks of my generation (my dad was the youngest of 17, so the folks that are in my age range are my 2nd cousins) aren't participating that much. It's the 50 and up crew, then the youngins (under 20). We usually have a talent show for the kids, a formal dinner with awards, family trivia contests, etc. It was in Virginia Beach last year and will be in Atlanta next year, which means I am on the planning committee. We used to do it around the 4th of July, but that has also begin to change.

The funniest story from this runion probably won't translate, but let me just say it involves a drunk uncle who was supposed to be saying the blessing but ended up preaching a sermon, then crying. During his "sermon", one of my aunts was punching him on the arm saying "Bless the food, Grover! Bless the food Grover! The food is getting cold Grover! These folks wanna eat Grover!" It was soooo funny!! I still have to repent everytime I think about it 'cause I end up laughing!! This happened about 20 years ago and to this day, if someone prays a real long time I get the urge to say "Bless the food, Grover!"

[kiml122]

Yes my family has a family reunion every other year. We meet in a different city each year. Last year Philly my part of town was the host city. The hotel where we all stayed was located in center city so it was live all weekend. There are plenty of things planned all weekend starting with the meet and great on that Friday at the hotel. That Saturday we have a giant picnic. Last year it was held at this park that had tons of things for the kids and everyone young and old from swimming to playing basketball, to just plain chilling playing cards. You could even go paddle boating. That evening is usually the party, and then Sunday when have chuch service and also give out awards to the different people in the family that have accomplished something in the last 2 years.

It really is a ton of fun, and it's great to have relatives I haven't seen in a minutie all together.

[FeeFee]

We have family reunions every year. The locations vary b/c we have relatives living anywhere from New York to Florida. This year the reunion is gonna take place in South Carolina. The last one I attended was back in 1998 when my cousin got married at the reunion. I used to go all the time, but now I just space myself out, mostly b/c I didn't have the time or the money.

[ClassyLady]

Both sides of my family have reunions every year. On my mother's side, the reunion is always the first weekend in August. The location rotates every other year. It is held at a relative's house one year and the following year it is held at the homestead, the house where my grandmother and all of her brothers and sisters grew up.

My father's side of the family has a reunion every year in North Carolina at the house where my other grandmother grew up. This is normally an all out event. They have a family reunion talent show where people make their kids get up and impersonate Lil Bow Wow and do the Harlem Shake. There's family movie night and a family dance. This is like a family reunion vacation for everybody.

[Sahara]

My mother's side of the family has reunions every 2 years. One family member (or household) usually sponsors it in their hometown. Most of the family is from Philly or the South.

One year, my grandfather's brother-in-law tried to make a pass at me!! Though we aren't blood, it is still sick for many, many reasons.
1. he's married
2. he's about 90 and did NOT age well!
3. he's can't walk
4. he can barely see
5. he's a pastor
6. he said it during dinner (across the table) while surrounded by all of my cousins and said not to tell anyone
7. he was serious
8. eww!!
WTF was he thinking? All I could do was laugh (and keep my distance). My cousins were sitting there giggling under their breaths. UGH!

[AKA2D '91]

Greetings All!
I stopped by to perhaps solicit ideas for a "name-game" (as
my mother says) for our upcoming family reunion this weekend.

Basically, we're trying to indroduce all the great aunts and
uncles in the form of a game. Once the answer is given, and if
correct, then that particular aunt or uncle will introduce
his/her kids and grandkids, etc. All ideas are welcomed.

Respectfully Submitted,
Bro. Strawter