KaBSuFOGaBR

Its a funny thing about getting older and growing up. The things you take for granted for so long can sometimes, rather suddenly, disappear. For 20 or 30 years of my life, getting together with my cousins, aunts, uncles, and miscellaneous grandparents was a given. 7 or 8 birthday parties a year, Thanksgivings at Aunt Denise's house, Christmas, and two weeks at Torch Lake. Everyone was always around. What's more is that doesn't include the sleepovers, the babysitting gigs, the first Communions and other Catholic sacraments that brought us all together. Once we got too old for birthday parties, we converted those to wedding showers, weddings, baby showers, and some Christenings.

My point is - we used to get together a great deal. And then we didn't. Nowadays its only a once-a-year Christmas party that, you gotta admit, is hectic, quick, and dominated by the marathon White Elephant gift game.

Judging by yesterday's event and attendance, it appears I'm not the only one who really enjoyed all those great years and memories, and I'm glad we all got together. I realize you can never go back and things change, but you don't have to completely go cold turkey.

I'm happy to see everyone enjoyed this great day - even with the less-than-ideal golf weather. I'm also happy to see a few of us are already looking forward to doing this again next year. Maybe we make it a standing date of Dream Cruise Weekend? Maybe?

The reviews are in. Aunt Sandy writes ...

Hi Everyone,
Well, the 1st ever Brooks, Kowalewski,Dowd, Modaffare, Degrazia Annual Golf, Swim and BBQ was a blast!! We could not have asked for a more memorable day (weather included). Hope all had a great time. I know all the little ones did. Hope a few little boys, namely Nick, Josh and Kyle did not have tummy aches from all the watermelon. Golf was fun, but we will get you guys(tony, Mike, Denise) next year. Maybe, if we keep the teams the same you will have to play blindfolded and left-handed. Thanks all for indulging us old folks and spending time together. It brought back a lot of good memories. I'm sure Aunt Marylou was smiling as she watched all the little ones.
Love you all,
Aunt Sandy

... and Aunt Denise says...

Hi all,
Want to thank Don for planning a Kowalewski/Brooks reunion Sandy thanks for your attention to the golf outing/food ordering, etc., Geoff and Richelle for being gracious hosts and opening their home and pool to us all. We had a very nice time (a little moist) but fun. Thanks to everyone. We had a great time and will never forget the first Kafabafarwhatever. Here is the link to the pictures that we took yesterday, the good the bad and the .... Hope you find one or two that you like!http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jerrydenisebrooks/album?.dir=/c678re2&.src=ph
Love, Jerry & Denise, Darrin, Brian & Grandpa Buzz

... and finally Dana and Vito chime in with ...

We had a great time too. Thanks for organizing everything Don and Aunt Sandy. Vito wanted to go to back to the party again on Sunday when we got up.
Love Dana

I hope we do this again next year. A few things we'll improve on include (a) a group photo at the course and then back at Geoff and Richelle's, (b) consult the Farmer's Almanac to determine if there'll be rain or not, and (c) a cannonball competition. Am I right? You betcha, I am.

Thanks to everyone for attending, whether willingly or not. It was great seeing you all. Thanks to Geoff and Richelle for hosting us all. Thanks to Aunt Sandy for taking my sketchy concept of an event and turning it into an actual golf outing and dinner. And finally, thanks to Uncle Jerry and Aunt Denise for enough watermelon for two reunions and especially for taking pictures so we have some record that this event actually happened.

It is one of the highlights of my summer of 2006.