We had a wonderful Courter Reunion in Topeka, Kansas. We really enjoyed the opportunity to visit and catch up on what has happened. As usual, I also hear new stories about past events I didn’t recall or that throw a new slant on the past!
One thing I am really thankful for-since I can’t pick my relatives, I am so glad I really enjoy the ones I have! I always look forward to the Courter Reunion. We used to go up just on the day of the Reunion (Sunday), but with time and distance, it now has grown to many of us coming up on Friday (or even Thursday) and staying until Monday, or any days in between!
Next year it will be in Lakeland/Memphis, so I hope everyone plans on a long stay. There is so much to do and I enjoy the opportunity to visit.
Courter Reunion 2006 will be remembered by Aliene and I (and Angela, Kali and Katherine) as rather an epic journey. It started on Monday, when we picked up Angela, Kali and Katherine in Little Rock. (Unless you get an air ticket at least 21 days in advance, Southwest Air is the only way to go. We pick up a lot of people (and take a lot of flights to and from) Little Rock, and, to some degree Nashville. Unfortunately, Southwest Air does not fly to Memphis. Northwest Air is great because of the direct non/stop flights (Memphis is a hub) and Delta is good because we have a Delta credit credit and get some free flights and 2/1 flights, but Southwest to Little Rock or Nashville is always there in the event we need it!
We drove back to Lakeland. Since I had a Board of Commissioners Monday night, they played in the park etc.
On Tuesday, we rode the trolley in downtown Memphis, went to the Childrens Museum, “Corky’s” (probably one of the best of the many outstanding BBQ places in Memphis, and just drove around. Wednesday, we went to “Mud Island” (riding the mono-rail), ate at the Hard Rock Café, went to the Brooks Museum of Art, drove through Harbor Town etc. and again just showed them Lakeland and the area.
Thursday, it was time to head for Topeka. We left in the early afternoon and stopped in St. Louis and headed up to Topeka early Friday morning. The two girls (6 & 3) were great.
The Reunion started as soon as we arrived (Eleanor, Kim and Rebecca, followed closely by others) and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
We went through Oklahoma City and dropped Angela, Kali and Katherine off and then headed on to Lakeland, stopping Monday night at our “favorite” hotel, the Hampton Inn at exit 55 in Clarksville Arkansas. If you ever get a chance to stay there, do so! It is really a wonderful hotel. I wish it was in or near Lakeland so we could have our family reunion there!
The last few years we have always looked forward to the Courter Reunion as a high point of our year. We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Lakeland next year.
It is strange to realize my generation is now part of the “older” generation, although we are fortunate that some of what I called the “older generation” when I was a child are still attending! I think that is the value of Reunions, to see the flow of the generations, and get a chance to visit and reflect on your life as well as just have fun.
As I reflect on the Courter Reunion, again, I think of how thankful I am that I like my relatives!
While we were in Kansas, I realized I had forgotten the HOT Kansas wind. It has been hot and dry in Kansas and I saw signs of the disastrous lack of rain.
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