Beech Tree News Network

Last weekend my dad’s extended family held a family reunion that I was unable to attend. I’m sure I missed good food, laughter, and good company. I enjoy reunions for many reasons, but primarily I want to see the people.

On grouptravel.org, family reunion statistics are posted. According to the information provided, over 50% of the families that hold reunions have them every year or every other year. Many (42%) start planning the reunion 13-18 months before the actual date. Reasons listed for family reunions included: to catch up with others, to tend to immediate family needs, to maintain closeness, to discuss history, and for personal rest and relaxation. Preferred reunion dates were: summer – 65.8%, fall – 12.6%, winter – 11.2%, and spring – 10.4% (http://grouptravel.org/family-reunion/family-reunion-statistics/#ixzz4m6...).

Adele M. Gill wrote a USA Today article, “Importance of Family Reunions,” in which she said:
“Much planning goes into family reunions. Generally, someone sets the date and time, invites the guests, plans the menu and prepares for the activities. Successful family reunions, whether held once a year or on every holiday, are important for three reasons in particular. First, they bring family members together. Second, they offer opportunities for family members to connect with one another. Third, they provide each person the opportunity to share memories and values that will last a lifetime…. Given a chance, family reunions and celebrations can provide family members with important values, strong and lasting bonds, and a deep sense of belonging that they can pass on to their children and their grandchildren” (http://traveltips.usatoday.com/importance-family-reunions-52377.html).
I agree with Gill that reunions provide opportunities to connect and form bonds.

I wondered what causes other people to attend reunions. So, I asked family and friends, “What factor or reason causes you to attend a reunion?” Most of their responses focused on seeing the people who would attend. Their responses are listed below:
•    Mom or Grandmother wants me to go.
•    None!
•    Shared history and a stroll down memory lane – a connection to my past.
•    The love for the people attending. Wanting to be with family that I don’t see often. Class reunions are mainly about catching up with old friends and curiosity about what has happened in everyone’s lives.
•    I attend reunions I guess just for the obvious reason – to see favorite people I’ve not seen in a while.
•    To connect with family, to be around people who knew and loved my dad, and to be near my grandparents.
•    To see family I don’t always get to see.
•    Just to see/visit others who attend.
•    Seeing cousins and family who I don’t see any other time.
•    To see classmates I liked and who time and space have separated. And I guess to see if the ones who were expected to do well did and hopefully the ones who had no expectations did well, also – the underdog, which would be the category I would have fallen into.
•    Depends on the reunion. I love my sister’s “get togethers” – which are a kind of reunion. I couldn’t care less about class reunions really, but I wouldn’t mind seeing some of those people. The same for some family reunions. I guess I go out of respect for the people who have gone to all the trouble of getting it together and respect for the family in general.

Reunions are a way to stay in touch with people we don’t see every day. My siblings and our families get together twice a year; we overflow a house. In my opinion, family and friends – two of life’s greatest blessings – are worth the effort.