The Sentimental Journey: The Fabulous Fowler Family Reunion

 The Backstory:

In the early 1970s Michael's maternal grandmother died in Vermillion, South Dakota.  The whole clan came together to both mourn her and to have a good, old fashioned Irish wake.  Being from a very WASP background, I was, at first, taken back by the festivities which included touch football, water skiing, poker and a lot of beer and whiskey.  But I soon got with the program.  Michael opined that it was a shame that we only got together for weddings and funerals and thus the idea of the every third year reunions began.

This is no small undertaking.  We start with the first generation of three sisters that were the offspring of Michael's maternal grandparents.  Sarah Anne (Washburn), the oldest, had six children. Margaret (Nelson), in the middle, had three children and Pat (Searles) (Michael's Mom and the. youngest) had five children. Even at the inception (1978) it was a sizable group.  But over the decades people, as they will, keep marrying and breeding and now the clan is about 80 people.  It was decided that every three years we would converge in a different place across the country and hunker down for a week and trade tales, party and engage in various pursuits athletic and/or amusing.  This year was the 15th Fowler Family Reunion--yes, that is roughly 44 years.  It was held in Harbor Springs, Michigan.  We have had reunions in states spanning from New Hampshire to California.  At this point, the organizational baton has been passed from the second generation (Michael's siblings and cousins) to the third generation (their offspring) and the fourth generation babies and young kids are watching carefully and getting ready to step up to the plate when their parents give out.

So, What Happens There?

Every reunion is a little different but there are some traditions that are always upheld.  No matter what we do during the day, we all come together in the evening for dinner.  Each subgroup of the family is responsible for feeding the group for one night.  It is not easy to feed 70 to 80 people -- particularly in a family where no one is in the restaurant industry.  Everyone plans ahead and then, on our way there or upon arrival, each group gathers vast quantities of whatever and waits for their turn in the barrel. This year we had pizza, tacos, build your own bowl, fried chicken -- well you get the idea. Basic, kid friendly food.

Deirdre pitching in as we prepare for our turn to make the meal for the group.

Brother-in-law Marshall & my youngest sister Theresa...

Campbell's (our nephew) girlfriend Lizzy...

and Campbell...

and my brother Brian...

and Campbell's older brother Wes manning the grill as we get ready for our turn to prepare the meal for everyone.

Devin (our niece's husband) & Campbell in the kitchen.

Theresa & Lizzy organizing the food line

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Dave Washburn (the primary organizer for the reunion) & his fiance Michelle greeted by Brian's wife Dian.

Amelia, the youngest member of the family at the reunion, at three months.

Callie, Wes's wife, preparing the appetizers.

Josh (father of Amelia) with Owen.

Hugs & conversation are a common theme.

Jim greets Amelia as my younger sister Mary looks on.

Marta & Nora (14 months). Marta is married to Jay, son of my brother Brian.

Jay on the far right is next to Sally (second oldest cousin after Dick).

Gathered at the chow line...

and chowing down at the table.

Adam Washburn playing frisbee with Owen. Lisa (Adam's wife) and their youngest child Jackson (10 months old) in the background.

Lisa, Jackson and Emma Washburn (daughter of Joe Washburn).

Anticipation!

Dick (the oldest cousin) and his wife Ruby.

Cousin Sally and Cousin Dan's wife Sandy looking at the photos posted on the shared Fowler Family Reunion Photo Album set up by Michelle. Brian then streamed the photos every evening when we gathered to eat.

As can be seen from the following photos, a good time was had by all.

The oldest & the youngest of the first cousins.

At this point the range of ages is pretty broad.  Our youngest participant was Amelia at 3 months and the oldest was Dick at 82.   So the trick is to have enough activities that everyone goes away happy. Following are some of the games, events, outings that took place during the week.

Cruising (We Wish) Around Harbor Springs 

When I told Betsy (last blog) that we were going to Harbor Springs she chuckled and said: "Wow, you guys are going uptown."  I had no idea about the place but I said, "Do tell".  Turns out Betsy was vacationing with a friend Kimball at the family's "cottage" in Harbor Point.  They went sailing and Betsy fell overboard.  Kimball's boat lacked a ladder and she motioned a neighboring boat over.  They pulled Betsy out and returned her.  As they pulled away, Kimball yelled, "Thanks, Edsel".  Yes, THAT Edsel. Those are the folks that summer there.  When I told that story to some of the 3rd gen folks they looked at me blankly,  Edsel who?  So, here are some pictures of that charming little town in which we could never afford a summer "cottage".  But it was fun to wander around.

The harbor at Harbor Springs.

You can tell a town is quaint when they still have the old fashioned clock (with their name) and it actually still functions.

The main street in Harbor Springs.

Some of the small "cottages" in Harbor Springs.

The Golf Scramble

Since the inception of the reunions, this has been a staple.  Just for fun, foursomes are concocted to be "roughly fair" which is pretty hard when you're dealing with an age span from 10 years old to who knows how old but somehow it works.

Jay Searles getting ready to tee off (photo by J. Brian Searles).

Josh Erickson prepares to hit the ball while John Washburn looks on (photo by Devin Odom).

Josh pitching to the green (photo by Devin Odom).

Lizzy & Campbell in the cart (photo by Callie Hiner).

Maureen & Trevor (photo by Maureen Dyson).

Patricia putting (photo by Michelle Felix).

Casino Night

Daryl always arrives complete with all the required elements for Casino Night which is highly popular with the teens to 20 to 30 somethings although sometimes geriatrics sneak in.  In this particular venue, they had to shut it down at 10 PM but at prior reunions it was known to go into the wee hours and many wickedly hungover participants (usually not the teens) emerged into daylight the next morning - or noon.

Gathered at the blackjack table (photo by Laura Lombard).

More blackjack (photo by Maureen Dyson).

Gathered around the craps table (photo by Laura Lombard).

Placing bets at the roulette wheel (photo by Carrie Odom).

Wine - In Some Format

This year it was a wine tour of Upper Michigan.  It seems like every improbably locale is growing vines these days.  In prior years, we held our own wine tastings.  Each person/couple brought a favorite white and a favorite red disguised in a plain brown bag.  Now, look at the population figures at the reunions.  That is a LOT of wine.  We would start out carefully judging the bouquet, swirling meditatively and, perhaps, once tasted, spitting it. out.  Perhaps.  Or not.  In order to complete the circuits, people would begin to increase the speed of tasting and decrease the studious contemplation, swilling down small cups in rapid order.  By the end of the tasting, a significant portion of the tasters would be flat out drunk.  Perhaps that's why they decided on the wine tour this time...

The Softball Game

A family standard. There are no age limits although when you are old it is pretty self-limiting.  Scores are always in the double digits, at least,  due to the failing talents, eyesight and concentration of the players. Certain defensive plays take on the aura of slapstick in order to allow the youngest of players to reach the base while at other times the aura of slapstick is just the result of trying to field a strong line drive with a beer in your hand.

Some pictures from the softball game.

The Family Photo

Just as it is not easy to feed 70-80 people, it is not easy to photograph 70-80 people in one shot.  This particular task fell to Michael and I'm sure he'll include a picture.  In addition, we take photos of each of the original three sister's offsprings, then their individual families, then all the second cousins.... you get the idea.  It is a bit of an ordeal and if you are smart you will bring a camp chair, liquid refreshment, food, sunscreen and a sense of humor.  Babies generally are not happy in this situation.

The entire Family Fowler Clan.

All of the first cousins (except for the baby).

A Field Trip

There is usually at least one "field trip". While not mandatory (NOTHING is mandatory at this event), the majority of people usually partake.  This time it was a trip to Mackinac Island(pronounced Mackinaw for some obscure reason).  Reached by a ferry, there are no cars there on island-- only horse drawn carriages.  Well, you can just ride a horse or bike if you want.  To say that this island is a tourist attraction is an understatement.  To say that the inhabitants have mastered a way to monetize absolutely everything on the island is NOT an understatement.  After having enjoyed a $21 Bloody Mary at the Jockey Club across from the world famous Grand Hotel, Michael and I decided to walk across the street to get a shot of the hotel in all its Grand glory.  As we walked along the sidewalk fronting the hotel we were stopped by a young woman in a red jacket. "Are you guests of the hotel?"  she asked.  "Well, no," we  politely replied. "Well, then I'm sorry but you will have to go to the lobby and purchase an admission ticket for $10."  "But, we're just walking on the sidewalk.  We don't want to go into the hotel."   "I'm terribly sorry (sure) but those are the rules."  I was so put out that I found a secret route onto the grounds and insisted that we visit just on general principle.  Sometimes I irk Michael.  But the island was lovely and it was probably something you should do once -- but maybe not twice.

The Mackinac bridge which connects the lower & upper peninsula of Michigan.

The ferry we took to Mackinac Island was of the high speed variety.

The scene as we approached Mackinac Island.

There were an amazing number of boats in the harbor, having just completed the race from Chicago to Mackinac Island.

The big cruise ships have even invaded Mackinac Island. This ship is registered in Majuro, which is in the Marshall Islands. I am not quite sure how it got to Lake Michigan.

This woman in period costume and this boy scout (not in period costume) were outside the American Fur Co. Retail Store. The next photo tells the tale in detail.

There are no powered vehicles on the island unless they are horse powered or human powered.

Those staying at the Grand Hotel arrive in this horse drawn coach.

The next three photos show the beautiful gardens of the Grand Hotel.

The next two photos show the extent of the Grand Hotel...

which needed two photos to capture its full length with the longest porch in the world, as described in the photo below.

Some of the cottages and B & Bs lining the main street were quite spectacular, as can be seen from the following photos.

Just Hanging With The Crew

A significant portion of the week is spent doing essentially nothing but chatting, holding babies, and wandering around from house to house to see what is going on.  One day a bunch of us ended up at Petoskey State Park which is on Lake Michigan.  Braving gale force winds we stumbled up the beach and set up camp with about ten others.  In the distance we could see the colorful spinnakers of the sailboats engaged in the cleverly named Ugotta Regatta.  This regatta came hard on the heels of a very major race that is held annually between Chicago and Mackinac Island.  This year's was particularly challenging due to a twelve hour thunderstorm with tremendous waves and a lack of visibility.  I guess they know how to sail since we didn't hear of any fatalities.

This is all you could see of the Ugotta Regatta boats from the beach where we were sitting.

Fortunately I had my camera with the amazing telephoto lens, so I could capture this shot.

Cousins at play in the sand...

and in the water.

The colder water did not seem to faze the younguns.

Sally with Amelia enjoying the sun & fresh air.

The seagulls were putting on a show for us as well.

And Now For Something Weird - The Mushroom Houses 

Some of the cousins had gone wandering up around the Bay and had come across these houses that looked like mushrooms (kind of).  It was a series of ten or so houses designed by Earl Young, a homegrown and self taught architect from Charlevoix, MI. That is another benefit of the communal dinners.  People trade stories about what they did that day and usually you will hear something that piques your interest for a visit on a subsequent day.

Pictures of the amazing mushroom houses.

Well, that's about it for the Reunion.  Michael and I are so lucky to have a family that is so cohesive, loving and fun.  Our next reunion will be in the summer of 2025 and the third generation is firmly in charge.  In a year or so we will find out our next destination and the planning will begin anew.  Now for the last leg.  Down to Louisville, a stop in Memphis, a day in Dallas, a few in the Hill Country outside of Austin and then home to Mexico.  Until then...