Family Reunions..... ITS ON!!!!

Summertime is officially in full effect and with this time of  the year comes kids being out of school, amusement park visits, June weddings,  pool days, and a staple for most African Americans,
THE GOOD FAMILY REUNION.   Now I may be wrong, because Lord knows I have been  wrong so
many times before, not only wrong, but LOUD AND WRONG!  But do other races have family reunions or is it a "black thang"?  I have several non African American friends and rarely have I heard them speaking about the  annual family reunion ritual.  I think family reunions and black folks go together like black folks and the electric slide at a wedding, like black folks and spades and dominoe games, like black folks and  hennesy, like black folks and Popeyes chicken, like black folks and pit bulls.  Have I used all the stereotypes?  But really, everyone I know who is an African American has had, is having or planning the good family reunion, it's apart of us.  And isn't it wonderful and fun, everyone who is related to you in some kind of capacity come together for a weekend of fun, picnics, spade games, drinking, eating ,and getting caught up with everyone in the fam.
I just recently attended my family reunion  in St. Louis, Missouri my hometown and boy was it fun.  Seeing your kin folk, getting reconnected, seeing who is balling, who is not, who has gained weight, lost weight, who is in jail, or ON THAT STUFF,  lost hair, had babies, graduated, dropped out, and my favorite seeing how the children in the fam have grown and matured.  I love my family, we are fun loving, full of humor who enjoys life.  The only part of the reunion that brings sadness is to see  who has gone on to the upper room, who has died,  (for those who dont know what the upper room is about).  But even with that, you can always see how that person has affected those who are still here, and their spirits are felt during the gathering.
So with the family reunion  season in full effect I thought I would set some ground rules for those of you who will plan, pack and travel  to your family gathering for this years family reunions.  If you are traveling out of town, state etc... touch bases with your other relatives that live in your area who are traveling as well.  Times are tough, folks are out of work gas is high, make a plan.  It may be financially beneficial to travel together, car pool, pull your resources together to get there for less.  Know where you are going and make sure if there is fee involved for the activities that they are paid.  Don't be that one trifling relative that not only shows up and you haven't paid a quarter towards the fees for the reunion, but you dragging 4 and 5 OTHER FOLK to the reunion and nayer one of ya'll have any money to contribute.  Come on man this is your blood, dont do that.  Also if you are in charge of buying the t shirts to be handed out to the family at the picnic, CAN YA'LL MAKE SURE THE  DAM SHIRTS HAVE THE CORRECT SPELLING ON IT.   There is nothing worse than seeing 100s of relatives walking around with tshirts with typos all on the dam shirts. 
This one is real important, before congratulating a relative on being pregnant....MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREGNANT.  Sometimes we are so quick to run out mouths and say the wrong thing, and trust me there is no way to recover from congratulating a relative on being pregnant and they aren't, they are just swole overweight, and belly is looking  like she is about 8 months pregnant..  So how bout this, just dont congratulate anyone on  a pregnancy unless you over hear someone else saying so and so is pregnant. Keep an open eye on that member of the family that is known to dabble in an occasional crack binge, you know that cousin always talking bout, "let me hold 10 dollars".  My father always taught me WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS..... CRY BROKE!!! Meaning just tell folks you are broke without cash, that way you never have to worry bout folks asking you for money.  And finally this is for all the MEN FOLK, and I mean this.....keep in mind, if you are at your family reunion and you trying to holla at a female, there is a good chance...THATS YO DAM COUSIN!!!   And stop going around asking folk does it count if you sleep with your 3rd cousin?  THAT IS YOUR KIN.... with yo nasty ass!!!! Dang!!!
I hope you all enjoy your summer, to be honest I have no idea where this past school year went.  I remember when it started, I remember the Christmas holidays well, but after that? A COMPLETE BLUR.  But... we here now, so enjoy it.  Remember  to get life, this aint no dress rehearsal, get connected with your family
and enjoy!!