Post-wedding: the cousins re-unite

Several years ago, Courtney and his cousins (on his dad's side) realized they only saw each other at funerals and decided they wanted to get together in happier circumstances. They made the commitment to gather each year--changing locations so that nobody had to travel farther every time. This year Brother Steve offered his house in San Mateo since half of them were already coming for Jer's and Pamela's wedding.




I wish we'd gotten a photo of the view from Steve's deck--overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Quite breathtaking! It made for a grand setting for the Cousins' Reunion. And good food and wine helped too.

Before Jer's wedding, while four siblings were staying at the Faculty Club, Steve brought boxes and boxes of old photos and letters they'd inherited from their dad's house after his death. Some sorting had happened pre-wedding and the rest was done during the reunion. (Courtney and I have differing opinions of what's precious and should be saved--as opposed to recycled. I waited until he went back outside and then took this photo and that and this one and.....)




Above, Courtney's sister Nancy is oooohing and aaaahing over a young and handsome Steve.




Courtney's brother Tom's daughter Sara is quite the cutie. She gleefully put stickers on her own face and then on everyone else's (like Emi and Kevin).....




...and Matt and Melissa.




At the end of the day, the cousins gathered out front for a photo shoot. We'd been hounding them like the paparazzi. Here's one side of them....




...and another...




...with spouses, partners and Tom's family.




We all said our goodbyes, make claims and promises about next time, and loaded up to go. Below are Tom and Fon (with kids in the back) taking off for more travels along the West Coast before returning to Thailand.




Recognizing how hard it is to get families together in these busy and modern times, I really admire that Courtney and his cousins succeed in making it happen. They've all lost their parents now and ascended to that position of oldest generation in their family. They're setting a great example for their kids, and seem to be having a wonderful time doing it. I was honored to be part of it all.

Valori