TUESDAY, AUGUST 31ST, 2021 Reunions

 Reunions

I’m going to talk about two types of reunions today.  Family and school.  

As a child, my family went to two family reunions every summer.  The big one was the Quaas reunion held in the Cedar Rapids area.  My great-great-grandparents came from Germany in 1849.   They had several children and some of those children also had big families.  My mother was the first great-grandchild of Gottfried and Mary Quaas.  In 1917 the family started a reunion to keep up on the expanding family.  I think my mother might have been the youngest one there.  

By the time I was born, I was a part of that event.  There was an awesome meal (it seemed as if the cooks were competing in a culinary cooking contest).  After the dinner, the adults had a business meeting and the kids played outside.  (I remember the swings with the hard seats and getting to know my cousins).  

The other memory was ice cream.  My parents had to pick up ice cream bars from Sanitary Dairy in Cedar Rapids!! 

As I grew to an adult frequently I was too far away to return!  My parents were Presidents of the Quaas family reunion as was my Uncle George.   

The group met for the last time in 2017.  100 years of a family reunion.  I missed that reunion as it was my surgery year.

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My maternal grandfather’s family also had an annual reunion.  The Youtzy family generally met in Dubuque or northern Illinois- where many lived. 

This family was not as close and there were fewer children.  But it was interesting to me that families got together!!

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School Reunions.

I went to one high school class reunion - five years after graduation.  I didn’t like it and didn’t stay long.  I was only close with a handful of people and those people didn’t come.  I did not go back for any more high school reunions. My close high school and college friend (Gary), begged me to attend the 50th and I didn’t go.  

I went to my 50th college reunion two years ago.  The university had identified about 20 leaders from the class of 1969.  Most of the people I barely knew.  We got a “diploma” for Mastery of Life Skills.  

I had debated going (and afterward wished I would not have gone).  I was in the early stages of transitioning and opted to go as the old person.  I was moving to a new life and a new identity- and to be my old self was mentally depressing.  The week after returning was when I spent four days in a mental hospital and this reunion was one of the reasons.  

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So, now.  I am going to a reunion this coming weekend in Prairie du Chien Wisconsin.  

HUH? 

After graduating I spent two years teaching at West Grant High School.  The class is 1971 is having their 50th reunion and invited me.  

So, why am I going?  I’m now a woman and definitely not the teacher (and baseball and basketball coach) they knew!  

I remember quite a few of the students - and I had all of them in class!  (I was the one and only high school math teacher).  

I am driving - taking the scenic route- and I am SO EXCITED!!  (Sometimes I wish I understood my own mind!!) 

Obviously next week I will write about some of my experiences!!  

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Overall, some family reunions can be good, and I’m not big on other reunions.  

(Shhh - sometimes I am a real introvert).

Nonetheless, I do believe that Love Wins!! 

Blessings!!

Karen