I’m back in the States with the kids briefly. Our dates happened to land over our yearly family reunion. I am a Lee. These photos were all taken at the 104th Lee family reunion.
Family reunions are a funny thing. All these blood relatives at various levels of genial separation… in general we dont know each other, but our blood brings us together.
From far and wide we come to break bread and hear of new marriages, deaths, and births in the Family. We share time and some awkward conversations about what we are up to.
Here you see my daughter, who wonders why she must be around all these strangers, but at least there is good food.
The big guy in red has been cooking chickens and pork for the last hours, a gentle giant, at service to his family.
Ah fresh Sweet Corn in the summertime, nothing quite matches a buttered and salted corn on the cob in the summer time!
A warm day, with warm smiles. The aged Lee’s out number the youth today. Though there are many young Lee’s, most did not come, maybe they were busy, maybe the importance of blood and history has not set in and they will come to reunions at the later times in their lives.
There is a book of the Family line to browse through. This is my great great grandma and grandpa. They birthed 8 kids and are in many ways responsible for nearly all the people at this reunion.
I know these photos represent aspects of my history, but it all feels a bit surreal, like going to a museum and learning about how people lived before this future we find ourselves in. But these people in these photos aren’t random people, they are my people, which somehow makes it feel that much more random.
Look at these hooligan, like some sort of cricket gang, though i dont think they played cricket, maybe that is just an oar after boating or something. But look at them, some how rough and scraggly, but on a day out in the finest. I don’t know why, but it makes me laugh, the guy with the oar has flappy eared dope vibe, they all strike me as hard working but perhaps not the smartest of folks… not sure why im reading into the photo so much, but its what im left with.
And here we are the hooligans of the now generation 🤣
Enjoying some ice cream on a hot day.
What picnic would be complete without some giant Jenga?
Somebody is gonna lose soon!
And here you we have a photo of my boy and a distant auntie/cousin named Phylis. At this Lee gathering, he represented the youngest Lee to come, and Phylis at 87 was the oldest.
Thanks for joining me on a little journey home visiting my Family.
I find myself more pulled toward my History than i did when i came to these things 20 years ago… though it still feels strange to me… i wonder if 20 years from now i will be one of those who continue to light the Lee family torch?
