chapter 503
8/5/2018
Olmsted Reunion 2018
perfectly imperfect
link to Olmsted Reunion photo folder (17 photos)
I'm dedicating this chapter to imperfection. Family photos with members lined up static and rigid are perfectly boring. But I must start with this baby Hazel being a perfect Gerbers Baby. She was so sweet, I didn't know babies could be like this; or if I knew, I forgot. She was the center of focus this weekend, so innocent so pure so lovely.
It all started with sis Kathy organizing a somewhat impromptu gathering in Cortland. Some say she is the family glue, the matriarch and we'd all fall apart if it were not for her organizational skills. All I can say is she cooks a mean chicken and cheeseburger, although she's gotta do something about the ventilation.
Speaking of chicken, we also paid a visit to our old chicken farm neighbor Anita. She's like family too having employed all us kids who collected eggs, fed thosands of hens and did various other jobs.
I wanted to stage an un-staged looking group photo. The family rebelled to my suggestion of assembling at our old homestead which is owned by another family now. I think they would have welcomed us. No matter, we did our best in Kathy's backyard. I haven't slept in my family tent in maybe 30 years. It did the job. Not as comfortable as the Hilton but better than a kidney stone. They say I'm a cheapo. Don't care, I got $150 extra in my pocket to spend foolishly on a nice steak dinner, a show, or a ride up Mt Washington in a steam cog railway. The pool was delightful in this heat wave.
We went to Virgil's Hope Lake Lodge and became wedding crashers in this Adirondack themed resort. No problem, it was festive and fun.
Did a little selfie with our friend Ben the Black Bear. He seemed friendly. Someday we'll have another Olmsted reunion at this venue again like the last one, but with a new generation of kids.
Also went to the Bluegrass Ramble and Festival at Homer's Little York Lake. Although a hot day, there was plenty of shade a nice breeze and a very relaxing afternoon (and free). It was interesting to meet a young teen photographer who was composing photos just as I did at his age.
Passed on the Seedstock Music Festival just south of Cortland which drew a really big crowd.
links to past reunions, we're not exactly on a routine schedule, with imprecise documentation
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