My Family Reunion!

I woke up in the morning, by a tap on the shoulder around 7:45; to only receive a “Come on! Trenati you’ve got to get up...NOW!” Still basically asleep I scratched the crust out the corner of my eye, and begin to stretch. Finally, I made my way out my bed beginning my morning routine. But, this summer’s day was little bit different. For one, after taking a peek at my calendar, I realized something. Today was my 30^th annual Jones- Howard Family Reunion. I thought to myself hmmm… another family reunion in which always end in more family members fighting, more getting drunk, and even more acting just plain crazy. Then, I thought well this is our 30^th annual reunion where we commemorate all our fallen love ones and remember the 30 years of getting together. Guess I just have to wait and see. Once I had my clothes on it was out the door because my mother had to go to Target to get some last minute items needed for the reunion. Afterwards I picked up my neighbors, Beyouncie better known as “mama” on our block she and her brother Kayvon who had been dying to go with us. At last we were off to the Family Reunion!

“Finally!” I yelled in relief. “Why do you have to be so LOUD!” my grandma said in an arousing tone mostly because she was still cranky from waking up so early. “Two hours in car with 6 people design for only 5 people will make you do that!” I muttered as I began to walk toward the park. I spotted a host of kids; there were kids playing with Frisbee, kids playing volleyball, and much more. I also saw lots of my family members, family members here, family members there, family members everywhere… And I was “READY”…….. To play that is!

I began to run towards park it seemed familiar, but unusual seeing that all our other reunions were located at a different park. Then it hit me we were at Hyde Park. The park in which held 4-5 football fields worth of land, including a playground with swings, a tire swing, a sprinkler, a see saw, and a slide. Finally, I reached the section where our family picnic was, I quickly latched to one of my favorite cousins Nori. Nori and I are so similar so we have lots of fun together. “Hey, what’s up Tren?” Nori said in excitement. “Nothing much, but hey how are you doing?” I said sharing the same excitement. Afterwards, Beyouncie, Nori, and I began to play at the playground on the swings, the tire swing, and later on the see-saw singing all our favorite songs.

Soon after we dying for some food, but as always we have to take pictures and bless the food before eating. Sitting there I began to calculate exactly how much of all the chicken, ribs, pound cake, collard greens, cornbread, and macaroni & cheese I could eat. And don’t forget that world famous homemade Uncle Sonny Barbeque sauce (it’s his secret recipe).  Finally it was time to eat and we ate all of our food so fast it was actually kind of scary! Sadly, it was the last hour and a half of the picnic/ reunion. To end the reunion the kids always engage themselves an obstacle course while all the adults who participated in the raffle around to around to hear the winner be announced. Later on it was time to go home with only a memory of this day, and the FUN!