Staying Connected

My niece Kristin, wrote in a recent blog about making face to face reunions with Facebook friends.  You can read her blog at http://www.fairtimiddlinkcg. blogspot.com. The following is my comment to her blog. 

"Seeing FB friends in person is a great idea, and you have been hard at it. Each story is unique and personal.
I love the June Ellenburg reunions. It is normally the only time that my parents, aunts and uncles that are left, nieces and nephews + their children, siblings, children and grandchildren get together. The fact the we had family from Pineola, Charlotte, Easley, Seneca, Nashville, Murfeesboro, Conway, Myrtle Beach speaks to the pull of the event. I especially like how you and the young people often get together that night for more time with each other. One other remarkable thing about is that, if all the regulars come, there will be around 20 children there, pointing to the fact that we are positive, hopeful, and forward-looking family. So niece, I am with you on that point."

I like Facebook because I can re-connect with people I've known over the years through it.  High school and college friends, former students and colleagues, parents of students with whom I've worked, family and friends all comprise my friend list.  I can and have; discussed a book with Jake James, a former student and Lee, my nephew; politics with Kristen; enjoyed the beautiful pictures my sister-in-law Jane takes or the pictures of my grand nieces and nephews in Florida; and read blogs by former students like Kim Kunz Princess of Sarcasm or Scott Sanders The 41 year Old Curmudgeon.  One of the big issues in retirement is connectivity.  All these opportunities remind me that my life has been rich and it still is.  Thanks, Kristin, for reminding me of that.

The Ellenburg special reunions are always the first Saturday in June at Oconee County State Park.  Most of the time, three of my dad's sisters attend, along with some of my cousins.  I love seeing Dale and Randall and Lane with their families.  Growing up we were together often and my memories of time spent with them are fond.  As Kristin noted, we recently added Fred and Ellie to the roster.  We share an ancestor and have loved getting to know them.  Since connecting, we have collaborated on research together with Dad and my brother Tom into family history.  With all my Ellenburg nieces and nephews and their kids, it makes for a right lively gathering.  As I have said on many occasions, there is usually no shortage of opinions expressed.  Can't wait till the next time.  The cast members will come and go, but the play will go on.  One thing I have learned is that Ellenburgs are smart and resilient, and not afraid to work.   Along with these traits, we are loving and loyal to a fault.  It's the mill hill in us - take one, take on all.  Although I still miss my friends at work, staying connected has not proven to be the issue I thought it would be.  If it had, I might be blogging all the time, instead of just when I feel like it.