After the recently completed Lund Family Reunion at Palmer Gulch in South Dakota’s Black Hills, I now know what it would REALLY be like to go back and live in the “good” old days..and it is both wonderful and extremely frustrating.
First, the wonderful part; all the direct descendants of Harry and Gladys Lund (my parents) and extended families..save three grandkids..were there. An amazing accomplishment since travel arrangements from Hawaii, Arizona, California, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and eastern South Dakota were..shall we say.. interesting and complicated which only delights me to think how determined everyone was to make it.
Great Faces Great Places
The accommodations didn’t quite measure up to the expectations promised but they were clean and..after agreeing to make the best of it, everybody made do and kept the joy up throughout our stay..rain or shine..which included a little of both all four days. It was every family for themselves during the day; traveling to all the tourist destinations..but in the early evening, we’d rendezvous back at our circle of cabins where easy meals had been planned and prepared ahead of time followed by conversations, a bon fire with smores, adult beverages and songs. Oh what joy!
Daughter Patty and Mom Linda
Even Uncle Jay joined some of the kids climbing the rock in our back yard. He was also looking for a phone signal and found one.
Daddy Tucker Smith holds great grandson, Jack..the youngest reunion attendee.
Everything came together like I hoped and prayed it would; especially seeing all the kid cousins just connecting and laughing and climbing the rocks and laughing and running and playing and laughing. It was worth it all. Then having Linda’s Brenda, James and Christy make the effort to be there..to be real Lund’s for a week along with Tucker, Julia and great grandson Jack staying with us. I just can’t thank them enough.
Uncle Jay was like a magnet to the kids.
James, Christy and Suzan with Linda and sister in law, Ilene in background
Niece Kimberly’s husband, Ryan turned out to be fine campfire guitarist. Niece Erin’s husband, Tate a fine singer..but we were all fine singers after a while. What fun.
So, Doug..you mentioned frustrating??
Well, Palmer Gulch doesn’t really advertise that if you need to make a phone call, you have to drive to Hill City..same with getting reliable WiFi service. Oh, I know the purpose of staying at a Black Hills resort is getting away from it all but when you have so many people whose business depends on their keeping in touch, vacation or not, and phone calls that are expected to be made and received, it’s just not terribly realistic to be isolated in the 21st century.
Even for a blogger who promised to send some pictures.
This joyful week wouldn’t have happened without the persistence of my sister-in-law, Judy Lund and, while there were several tearful toasts offered up to her husband, my brother, Denny, who died last August. There were even more stories told about his unbelievable life that brought laughs so hard the tears rolled too. Thanks Judy.
Matriarch, Judy Lund..the organizer..who also hand made beautiful necklaces for all the grown-up girls.
It’s up to the grandkids to plan the next one.
I can’t wait.