Parr Family Reunion 2008

Aunt Carol, Aunt Dorothy, Sparky & Gus. (Merril, Dave and an infant sibbling are deceased)

Larry, Sparky & Terry

Well, we are home from the Parr Family Reunion in Nebraska.

When we picked up Sparky and Terry on Friday I was in the back seat because Sparky can get into the front seat a little better and he would have more leg room. He does not like it when I have him sit in the front. We stopped to have lunch and while we were eating he said, “When we get back in Mountaineer, you can get in the front and sit with your husband”! I said, “Nonsense. I like being in the back because I can read my book and not get car sick. AND, I can reach the snacks and cooler full of sodas”. He grumbled yet he sat in the front. Why are older people so hard headed when it comes to little things such as that?

On the way there we went through the small town of Stanton which is where Larry’s grandmother lived before she passed away. We took pictures of the area and then headed to our hotel. We had dinner and went back to our rooms to rest up for Sat.

On Saturday morning our phone rang around 7:30am. Sparky did not like the continental breakfast the hotel was serving so he wanted to go out to breakfast. So of course we took him to breakfast…which mine was horrible. Saturday afternoon was the reunion which was in Madison and we were staying in Norfolk which is only about 15 miles apart. I asked Sparky on Friday if I needed to get the address for the hall where the reunion was to be held. He said that he knew where we were going. Against my better judgment, I said ok and I didn’t get the address. Well, on the way there Sparky INSISTED I sit upfront so I did. We were pulling out from the hotel and I said, “Sparky, you should have sat up here to give driving directions”. He said, “Ah, just use that thing up there to tell you where to go”. (He was talking about the Navigation system.) I told him that it can’t help us because we don’t have the info to put in it for it to help us. (Of course that meant that he was not sure which way to go.) He said, “Well, just to toward Madison”. Just so you readers will know, there were no signs pointing to Madison. So we asked what direction that might be. He said left…however, it was right. SO, we turned around. Of course, we still did not know exactly where we were going. Once in Madison, we went down a couple streets and we kind of just found the place. Of course he knew it when he saw it. Also, I took the opportunity to mumble in a low voice, “Told you we should have gotten the address before we left”! Ha!

So we went in and had lots of hellos and hugs. Several of the women were sitting with a large tub full of OLD pictures. They were separating photos to give to all the children of Ella and Frank Parr, aka Larry’s Grandparents. Later on, it was dinner time. OK, I have a question…How come at family reunions do the families of each child sit together. Isn’t it a ‘reunion’ and we are to ‘reunite’? Hey, my family is just as guilty as the next but is that not interesting? We come together once every blue moon and we sit with the people we see the most. No problem with that but is it not funny how that always works out? After dinner we chatted some more. I sat down with Aunt Dorothy who is the oldest sibling and who I just adore, and we looked at some of the photos. She wanted to be sure that we had pictures as well. She is just a sweetie! Of course if you have talked with me or read my blog you already know that Aunt Carol, which is the youngest, and Larry and I are very close. I call her Aunt Carol because I am so close to her and I really feel that she is “My” Aunt Carol.

All of us “out of towners” stayed in the same hotel except for Aunt Carol who stayed next door. After the official reunion was over, the ones staying at the hotels all met in the lobby. We sat and talked until around 11:30pm. Looong day! On the way to our rooms Sparky told Larry, “If it’s ok with Kim, let’s go to breakfast at 8am”. So, we did. When we returned to the hotel after breakfast all the gang were in the lobby and we sat and chatted and said our goodbyes.

On The Road Again…We went by the house where all of Sparkys brothers and sisters were born except Aunt Carol. Yep, born there…no drugs…no epidurals, no nothing.

The trip home was good. We normally stop at Cracker Barrel at ‘least’ once when traveling. So Sunday afternoon, we had a late lunch/early dinner at CB! Yummy! It was great! We were on the downhill stretch…almost home.

The downfall to going out of town…I missed Shelly’s baby shower! I just keep telling myself that we are all moving together and I get to play “Aunt Kim” to him once we are all settled in our new homes. AND, I missed seeing Tim and Connie. (Long story but we were all in the same state and did not get to get together!)

Tomorrow, Tuesday, we are off to Ft. Riley to see housing on Post and to check out the surrounding area including housing areas. Mike and Shelly are there and we may hook up with them for dinner while we are there.

Stay Tuned for Riley updates!