Hans and Agnes Frahm Clan Family Reunion

Left to right: Charlie, Steve, Audrey, Russ (face hidden, sorry), Elaine, Tracy, Nathan, Vesta, Madison, Hope, Mark, Jeremy, Belle, Carol, Cassandra, Emily, Debbie, Leah, Joan, Phil, Kathy, Jose', Dee Dee, Becky, Linda, Mitts, Andrew, Joe, Mark, Samantha, Paul, Lisa, Ashton, Tyler, John, Jake, and Spencer.

We had several pictures of this big group, and as you might expect, most of them did not turn out just right.  There is another one that shows everyone's face quite clearly, but I love the action in this image as we all leaned in toward the center of the four of the remaining Frahm siblings of their generation.  It reminded me of my youth when it seemed to me that the center of the family was Agnes (Grandma, to me) -- we were all connected to each other because we were all connected to her. This summer it felt like we were all connected by a kind of gentle, loving acceptance of each other that was, to me, the very essence of Granma's character.

Carol, Joan, Linda, and Mark. (Janet, the other surviving sibling, was unfortunately unable to attend).  

Hope, Phil, Dee Dee, Casandra, Paul, and Elaine were only some of the picture-takers.  The cost and convenience of digital cameras has turned everyone into a photographer.

Audrey and Belle and I stayed with Kathy and Casandra in their beautiful home.  We stayed up late telling stories and outlandish lies to each other and shared many great laughs.

Camping with friends and bugs

Over the Thanksgiving weekend we had the great pleasure of camping with good friends.  We went to the Big Cypress Preserve and were happy to see lovely campsites that were both free of occupants and free of charge.  There was plenty of room to run and play frisbee, etc.  There was plenty of firewood for a campfire.  There were nearly-new picnic tables on concrete slabs. There were even concrete structure outhouses (no running water).  There was also something else that didn't concern us much, until the next day...

Bugs!  We didn't realize how much the bugs were biting until the next day when the evidence became painfully clear.  Poor Audrey suffered from hundreds of bug bites that left her swollen and miserable for the entire week to follow.  She is strong, but the itchiness really got to her. This is one ordeal she would hate to repeat.

More Greatness for Atticus

Here are the Great Grandparents of Atticus on the Frahm side, the Iowa contingency, of the family.