What a great way to start off Summer vacation…Bailey and I are California bound Saturday morning. It’s my oldest sister’s birthday and a family reunion next Saturday. I will be meeting family I have never even heard of! FUN! I am being sarcastic. I love my family, but I already know enough of them! And they’re weird! Okay so I come by it naturally!
Although I am excited to see my Mom’s side of the family, my cousins and Aunts and Uncles and my Grandma, I can’t say I’m that excited to be meeting oh about 50 people I never heard of! People are flying in from Texas, Hawaii, all over!! This is the 1st reunion I have been to since I have been an adult. I don’t do well with a lot of people especially a lot of people saying, “Oh you were this little the last time I saw you” Just not my thing! I will get through it though and Bailey will have a blast playing with all the kids!! I think I’ll stick close to the cousins I grew up with though! Is anyone else like that? Do people like going to family reunions? We’ll see this is the first real one I will be going to.
You know what else I am having a hard time with is who to spend my time with. I’m only there for 9 days, seems like a lot but when you visit everyone and have so many things you want to do and see it’s really not that much time! I have girls I went to high school with wanting to get together but I don’t even talk to them on Facebook! I think I’ll stick to the ones I actually talk to and have some sort of relationship with. How do I tell them that though? I’m not good at saying, “I don’t have time for you!!!” Any suggestions on that one??? I just want to relax some of the time and enjoy our time. I do not want to be running around the entire time! But everyone there does that…always running, running running! I just may need a vacation when I get back from vacation!
Us Girls..Our Views 
I have a surprise for you on my blog, in the second post. Enjoy.
I can relate with that.
My father’s side have many relatives that I’ve never heard of. My grandmother has like 1 boy (my father) and about 6 girls (my aunts). My father is the youngest. Sometimes we would visit but we seldom do so. But everytime I visit, I would get a shock of my life. You see, since my father is the youngest, I’m kinda younger compared to all my cousins. One day I met this guy who was older than me by 7 years and when I asked who was he, it turns out that he’s my NEPHEW.
If you are going to enjoy yourself then hang with the people YOU enjoy. Normally when large family groups get together SOMEONE is going to be annoyed with someone else. Let SOMEONE be annoyed and YOU have fun!
Kinda wierd… I don’t really know you but I’m really excited for you!
Pay particular attention to this: at some point (while you are on your way home) you will develope this “feeling of coming home.” I love that feeling.
HAVE A FANTABULOUS TIME!!!!!
For me, most “reunion” type things are weddings and such. I’ve never had to travel for them, because most of my family lives relatively nearby. The last event we had that was just about “reunion” (dad’s side) was actually at my house. That was a lot of fun, and an especially good memory because my aunt died not long after that. I met some cousins for the first time, who have remained friends.
I am an introvert so, in a big gathering where I’m not the hostess, I usually gravitate toward anyone I already know or play around with the kids. I do love getting together with family, though. It always seems therapeutic somehow. It’s fun to see how everyone’s changed and how they’re still the same. Some people I didn’t enjoy years ago are easier to relate to now. So, go into it with an open mind and just assume you’re going to have fun. If talking with one person feels unpleasant, move on to someone else, and eventually you will find someone who is fun to be with.
As far as miscellaneous non-relatives who want to meet you, maybe set up another informal get-together where such people can meet you all together. Like, if you bowl, maybe all get together at the local bowling alley at the same time. That way you only give up one evening for all those people.
Have fun!
“sorry, but I’m not going to be able to get together while I’m there. My mom planned all these visits for us and they eat up most of mydays. Maybe another time.”
That’s what I’d say! You CAN’T feel bad for not getting together with these people especially when you said yourself you don’t talk to them now.
You guys are going to have a great time! Have fun and a safe trip!
You will have fun Nikki and I’m so happy for you. I’m with Sue. I’d just say your days are booked up and you’re sorry. Hey, if you’re on vacation, why eat up good time seeing people who you don’t even talk to? I wouldn’t ever do that. Be safe and stay in touch with us.
Have fun in the sun.I was there twice in the year 1986.I had a blast.Love the ocean,so calming and relaxing.Do as Sue and your mommy-in-law say and have fun.I am so jealous 🙂
I’m so glad you’re back Pam. We really missed you. Did you notice I added your name to the top?
Sounds Fun Nikki and a little tiring. Hope to see some pictures when you get back. I’d like to see how Cali’s doing. We went to a family reunion on Navar’s side of the family. I was actually pretty nervous. But I ended up having a really good time it was fun visiting everyone seeing new babies and hearing stories of what people are up too. It turned out to be one of the highlights of my Summer. As far as getting school friends together, something we have done for our family visiting us is, when they had lots of friends to see here. We had a pic nic for everyone at the park pot luck. And we invited all of their friends so they wouldn’t have to spend all their time running around. Worked out pretty well. Invite everyone on your list, and who ever shows up is who shows up. Just a thought. Hope you have a great time and a safe trip!
I’m like that. I HATE crowds. I do not do well or function well in crowds. Even more so with people I consider strangers. I always hated family reunions even as a child. A small group I can handle a large one not so much..
My mom and I are pros at nixing certain social events when needed because we’re always going to California for way too little time to get to see everyone. Start out by making no promises to anyone, and then when you’re there, just do a round of phone calls and tell people that you’re really sorry, but you have family people that you really need to meet and your days just got booked up before you realized it and you hope you can catch them next time!
Family reunion – must be awkward. I have a sprawling family tree as well, tons of cousins and such that I’m not even aware of, but I don’t think I’d ever want to go to a family reunion and try to get to know them all ^_^”.