part one of family reunion

family reunion part 1. we got here in one piece..i got pulled over by a cop because he was coming the other direction and he must have been driving pretty high speed because i didn't get enough of a chance to slow down enough before he clocked me and turned around....i proceeded to take the radar detector out of the window and when he walked up he said, do you know how fast you were going? i looked up and said no because i wasn't exactly sure. i feigned surprise when he said he clocked me at *87, and it took everything within me to not sigh relief and say, "good, i'm glad that's what you clocked me at because it might have been closer to 94."

we went to my aunt beth's house and another of their sisters and her daughters and grandkids came over and we had some kfc. when we drove by where my grandma's old home was, and it has since been leveled and turned into a park and walking trail. it has changed so much! almost unrecognizable.

then we played a game called wazzit...it's one of those with phrases that are written in a way to make you figure them out like: talk talk would be double talk. anyhoo, it was running long, but of course we couldn't stop in the middle of the game without finishing, because that would go against board-game etiquette...although, in order to get done quicker, we may or may not have all had a hand in cheating to help each other reach the end so we could get a winner (none of us really cared who won...) cheating in order to finish...principles, principles....

we checked into a red carpet inn earlier today (it was a cheap one near the park, that accepted pets)..

well, all i can say is that this hotel should probably be picked up and moved to the little town of halfway down by mom and dad's because the management seems to be just that. they haven't even been at the counter any time that i have walked by. the vending machine has about 3 choices...and i think i might be in a smoking room that they just pried the little smoking sign off the door...not sure. it should have been a hint when i called to make the reservation and had to ask the person to repeat everything twice- it seemed like i had been routed through a customer service center in india, but no, not to my surprise, there was an indian boy that checked us in...and tonight his mom had to re-key my key card because i couldn't get in my door...bruno and chaco were probably playing a prank...

now it's time to get some sleep so that i can talk to people tomorrow and come up with things to say and stories to tell-i have a crazy, silly imperfect family...but it doesn't even matter because at least it's MY family! i wouldn't have it any other way!

julie