Glenn Short Family Reunions and News: 2017 Family Reunion at the Country Kitchen

July 1 - our reunion at the Country Kitchen. Thank you to all who came. I just wish I had delegated taking group photos to someone. Hind sight is always 20/20.

We had a wonderful turnout, but we missed Mary & Skip, Charlie, Michael & Branigun and kiddos, Wade and Erika and kiddos, Tommy and family, Andrea and family and Brad & Joelle, Riley and Carter, and Amy and Mike and all the boys, Kelsey (was ill) Marissa, Michael and Laura. – Come next year????

Thank you Jay and Alena for bringing your family and grandbabies. We had 30 in attendance, and if we’d had the whole family, we would have had 36-40 more. Let me tell you there is room for us all there. Next year Kenlee and Jake will have a little one – that makes 41. (71 total)

Reunions are interesting….my sisters and I were raised never going to a family reunion for the Shorts or the Green/Leishman’s– not even once that I recall. Maybe Jay went with Mom and Dad – I know they had one at their home in Midvale once. Some families make a whole week of it – they meet at a Lodge or Conference center with activities/repelling/hiking/swimming, etc.

Personally, I feel lucky that we had half of our troupe there. Maybe next year???

On the way there last night, I thought that I could take photos of the evening, but after I got the tables photographed, I forgot the rest of it. After dinner, the stories started slowly but they gained momentum as time went on. I spent the afternoon before the reunion going through the “Schnell” home movies trying to find spots where all the cousins were represented. Eli was very interested to see photos of his Dad as a baby. Austin and Amelia were surprised that the blonde little boy in the movie was their dad, Andy. The thing I was impressed with was – I thought I was fat all the time when I was raising the kids – I wasn’t!!!!! I’d give anything to be that “fat” gal size now.

Wade and Brad were well represented in the story telling section – my suggestion to you is to come and tell your side of the story next year.

So now that I’ve had time to contemplate – here are some evaluations/suggestions for next year.

· Arrive at 4:30-5 – Maybe Alena or Marissa would be in charge of taking photos = family, group, misc, fun….(Earlier hour to accommodate Long Beach folks)

· 5-6 Soft drink hour -

· 6-7 Dinner Hour

· 7-9:30 - Clear the tables and have a program, stories, activities, mixers – I know we will have a slide show/CD show next year that Judy is preparing

o Stories from ancestors from the “Short Story” book

o Maybe you guys can come up with more ideas

o Family memories

o Talent Show

o I will try to get a microphone for next

· I didn’t get a chance to visit with everyone that I wanted to

I had thought about meeting at a park from 3-5 for the kids????? We could change gears altogether and stay at the park and have the dinner catered?????

I will try to get a microphone for next year

I would appreciate some suggestions from the group. The restaurant idea is a good one, because no one has to prepare, set up or do dishes, put stuff away. SO, if we stay at the Country Kitchen, please come up with some suggestions for mixing it up a little bit and getting family news out to the group.

June 30 is the Saturday before the 4^th of July (which is on a Wednesday) Lloyd family always go to Eagle Crest for the 4^th. Jay/Mary’s family sometimes come to Longbeach for the 4^th, so we could catch their families while they are here.

Any other suggestions for dates?

I know everyone’s lives are busy. This is the only family we have. I look back now and remember the one time that Mom/Dad and Jay came in their little van, and us 3 girls brought our families and we camped at Cape Lookout. We really did have fun. It was restful, relaxing and memorable. Mary wasn’t there, but that is where Dad dictated his biography. Some of us are too old to camp now, but it would be great to spend more than just a couple hours together.

THINK HARD AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS.

I love you all so very much and I do take the role of Matriarch of the Glenn Short family descendants seriously. There have been many times in my life that thinking about my parents, my grandparents and my ancestors have kept me from making wrong turns in my road. None of us have it easy. I totally identify with those of our group who came alone, alone with your children – you see, I’m there too. I am grateful for all of you and for our ancestors.

Suzanne Short,
Attending: Glennda Short Field, Jenna Field and Jude Parman, Jay & Alena Short, Curt and Whitney, Zack and two granddaughters