Harrison Family Reunion 2008

Over the weekend, we went to the 30th annual Harrison Family Reunion in La Veta, Colorado.
This started in 1978 because cousins from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado and where ever else decided to get together sometime besides funerals and weddings. The cousins I'm talking about were my grandpa and all of his cousins. Over the years, they have become known as the "blue bloods." This year there were three blue bloods there. I have gone every year except 2003 when Nathan & I were on our honeymoon. My brother and dad are the only two that have gone every year. Partly because they travel less than 100 miles.

We stay at Sulphur Springs Camp. It's a old ranching lodge with 6 cabins. The cabins used to have multiple bunkbeds and one bathroom so my grandparents and all their kids and grandkids could stay in one cabin. About ten years ago, a new guy bought the joint and turned each cabin into a little cottage with kitchen facilities and living room. Now each cabin sleeps only 4 to 8 people instead of 14-20. Every year, we laugh about why we didn't buy the place way back when instead of paying rent on it every year!

As always, there is always too much food! We had wonderful pork BBQ on Friday night, pancakes and sausage on Saturday morning, beef brisket on Saturday night and biscuits and gravy on Sunday morning. There is always yummy desserts that you HAVE to eat...like S'mores.

There is this rock mountain (aka Rattlesnake Mtn) that everyone has climbed.....I have yet to climb it. There are rattlesnakes in the area and I don't need to find one. Like my dad says, "I didn't lose anything up there that I need to go find." Opposite Rattlesnake Mountain is another mountain that the kids have named Bear Mountain because one year they saw bear tracks up there. It is a straight hike up a small dirt trail. This year I pushed Remington in the jogger stroller up to the end of the trail. The small kids (under 10) needed a chaperone and I needed the exercise.

There was a low note in the weekend. Cousin Sid's daughter Linda and her family weren't there as they flew to Washington DC to see her son Tyler. He was part of an ambush in Afghanistan and was hurt but alive. A reminder that we all know someone who is fighting for our freedom and freedom for those who have no voice. Whether the troops are abroad or serving here in our country, we need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. If you know someone in the military, tell them that you love them and thank you. No matter what political team you run with, the truth is that our country wouldn't be where it is today without men and women serving in the military.