Good afternoon. For those two or three of you who follow me, you know I didn’t post anything last Thursday. That’s because, if you didn’t see it on social media, we were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary the weekend before…then went to a Plank family reunion in Illinois along with thirty-some other Planks. Our anniversary celebration followed the obligatory meet-&-greet reception on Saturday, and consisted of three nights at a Bed & Breakfast…not an AIR B&B, but a real Bed and Breakfast…in the Flint Hills of Central Kansas.
Far from urban areas and definitely in
the country, the place had been built specifically for a bed and
breakfast. There was a 15 or so acre
lake just off of the back patio, and we were the only ones there besides our
hosts. I really enjoyed watching the sun
set, hearing the birds of the area, cattle mooing off in the distance, and
taking in the rural flavor of Kansas.
Of course, we also visited some nearby
places such as the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, the Tallgrass National
Preserve, and other attractions that befit an older couple NOT looking for a
lot of noisy nightlife. We spent some
time just passing through some of the smaller towns in the area, just to look
around a bit. All in all, it was a good
time of rest and renewal.
Our family reunions are, I think,
somewhat unusual in these times. The six
of us siblings are the matriarch/patriarchs of the family, and started the
reunions decades ago following the passing of our parents. We meet pretty much every year at a place
that can accommodate 30 to 50 people, including children, and where we can have
meals served to us. Usually, that’s a
camp of some kind such as a YMCA or 4 H Camp, or in this case, a church camp
site that also has motel-style rooms they rent.
A couple of things that make this
somewhat unusual are that we make a special effort to include all who choose to
come to the reunion, and an equally special effort to get along and not cause
waves of trouble. There is no alcohol
allowed, and we don’t discuss politics or religion because we are all over the spectrum
when it comes to those two topics. Yet
we have plenty to talk about and listen to…and are grateful for the family
time.
Second, the kids…the nieces, nephews,
grand kids and others LIKE to come to the reunions. They make a special effort to be there, and
have said how much they enjoy the time together. One of these days not long from now, those
will be the ones who decide whether, when, and where to hold family gatherings,
as we siblings are all of retirement age or more. It is our hope that they will decide to
continue, and will also be able to continue to hold these gatherings.
On the way back from Illinois, we
stopped at Dyersville, Iowa, a smaller town about an hour north of I-80. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps the
movie “Field of Dreams” will. The movie
set baseball diamond and farm house are there in their original location, along
with a corn field all around. They now
also have several other buildings, including a gift shop and a couple of places
where one can get a burger or drink.
And, they have built a regulation baseball field a short distance from
the movie field where major league teams can and do occasionally play ball.
The Field of Dreams field is well-kept
and is accessible at no cost, although they ask for a donation. Of course, given the number of people there,
one can’t spend an hour hitting baseballs from home plate…just a few are a
reasonable number. Everyone was
respectful of others and didn’t overdo it when it came to occupying home plate
or the pitcher’s mound. And, one can
spend some time in the outfield “having a catch,” as the movie puts it, or
running the bases, or just soaking it in.
The corn field is roped off, and there are harsh penalties for anyone
found in there.
While we were there two teams of 11
year olds…some kind of summer rec or travel teams had a game scheduled on the
Field of Dreams. They prepared the field
for that event after asking everyone to finish what they were doing and get off
the field. We stayed to watch a couple
innings of the game. I have to imagine
that it was a special thrill, if not for the boys, for the coaches and officials
to play a regulation game in that special place.
It was back to work this week after
taking a little over a week off. Our
friends (and almost family) Michael and Bridget, watched the house for us,
watered the plants, and even cut the grass and trimmed. Work had piled up some, and I’m still trying
to get out from under it. So, it’s back
to a normal life…one that is both fulfilling and enjoyable. But it’s good to have a break, and even
better to take that break with someone I love and who loves me.
May God bless you the remainder of this week as you continue in life and living.
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