The Family Reunion Series

I just got back from my family reunion. My mother's side of the family, after the patriarch passed away, decided that the clan needed to stay in touch, so we meet every other year.

The Millers.

Although only one is still a Miller. All the other girls married. There were six . . . girls, that is . . . in the family. Three from my grandfather's first marriage (Joyce, Jerry and Lois) and three from his second (Joan, Janice, Judie). I am one of the daughters of the fifth. As you can tell, there are quite a few to gather.

I have a really great family . . . mostly musicians and artists and medical professionals and thinkers and educators and even an architect. All but two are uber-liberal, ex-hippies -- even the oldest aunties (over 80) and the youngest second cousins. Tree-hugging, guitar playing, recycling lefties! And even though we have our disfunctions and each subset faces its own challenges . . . when put together, we are kind to each other and treasure the short days we get to spend, every other year.

This year we gathered in northern Wisconsin to make it easier for the two least mobile aunties to attend. My cousin Nancy and her daughter Kayleigh organized and found the resort. We don't go extravagant . . . few of us have that kind of money. Mostly we just look for a place where we can all come, with a large enough space to host the group dinners and the talent show . . . and where no one will mind a lot of singing and drinking into the night.

The next few blogs will be about this reunion.

Miller 2006.