Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cousins' Reunion 2012

2nd cousins & Gene
We spent last weekend on the southern coast of Oregon in the little fishing town of Port Orford. It is 519 miles from our house to theirs and it is the third time we've made the trek. 



Port Orford is Oregon's best kept secret!
  ~ 
One of my favorite parts of the reunion weekend is the couple of times we take to the beach. This time we stayed at a motel directly across from the beach which allowed us to guzzle a cup of joe and walk the entire beach by ourselves at 6:30a.m. It was the only time I really missed having our dogs with us. They would have loved having the beachscape to themselves.  ~  After a very long walk through tide pools and driftwood, we headed to the boat launch to attend Port Orford's annual "Blessing of the Fleet".  I attended it last year so I knew what to expect but it was Gene's first time. When they call the name of each fisherman or woman who has been lost at sea they ring a bell. It is haunting and brings a lump to my throat. As the blessing took place, a hawk circled behind the flag pole while the fog rolled in. I was literally transported back to the place of my teen years in small-town Alaska and felt a strong connection to those roots that I never feel anywhere but here.  ~  Shaking off those old memories, we arrived at my cousins' place to find a good spot to plant our chairs and hunker down for conversation and the most awesome fish-fry. There were also kabobs, hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings. Later in the day, the bonfire was lit, my cousin's home-town band arrived to entertain us and we talked into the late evening. I'm sure Gene and I were the first to cry "uncle" and head back to our motel to bed, for the thought of driving 519 miles home loomed like the fog. Sunday morn we stopped at our favorite diner called "Mom's" in Coos Bay before we got serious about getting home. ~  I can't believe the 2012 Clark Cousins' Reunion is behind us now.  Only 360 more get-ups until the next one! 



Best fish fry ever!
Does your family have a reunion?
How far do you travel to get there? What's your favorite part of it?  Do tell!

love, susan

2 comments:

  1. Love the holiday pictures ! I go to sea side holidays often and eating fried fish {made of fresh fish that the fishermen caught just before our eyes] is a memorable experience. At the same time, the fact that many fishermen lose their lives in the sea every year due to high tide and storm is sad indeed.
    have a nice day !

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  2. We're heading out to the annual family reunion this Sunday. Every year my family meets up at my Great Aunt's blueberry farm and we spend the day gabbing and eating blueberries. We usually pick enough to freeze at home for scones too, so that'll be something to look forward to when you come visit.

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