Awake: 4:30am Temp 52 sleep 6+20 cloudy with early light
drizzle overnight @ Nicktown.
It’s Homecoming Festival Day. Kathy & I attend 6:00 am Mass. Then back to
the bus. It takes over 500 volunteers to make this Homecoming Festival a
success. The annual picnic in Nicktown has been going on since the early
20’s? We asked some of the old geezers in town & most of them said "even
before the 20's."
We planned a rendezvous on our property @ the latest, 10:30am; the Footes
arrived @ 9:00am; Gary & Rosemary @ 10:15. When Gary & Grace walk over,
they are introduced to G & R + the Footes. We all start walking to the
picnic grounds @ 10:45. In line for the tickets, I purchase 10, which
cover all of us, including my brother, Don & Sister, Corinne who will meet
us in line; there is no charge for Matthew & Andrew. The waiting line is
already around to the 2nd corner of the pavilion.
As we saunter down the final stretch, there is my bro Don. He’s early but
where is my sister Corinne? We 9 plus Matthew & Andrew get seated & the
homemade noodles, real mashed potatoes, fried chicken, beans, coleslaw,
etc are passed quickly. I thought Gary J. was kidding when he told me
earlier that he doesn’t eat chicken…..he wasn’t!
We reserved a chair for Corinne & made sure that Ron & Ed (in charge of
seating) knew that she would be arriving soon. I was about half finished
with my meal when I decided to go outside & scan the long line for her. I
gave a head’s up to my 1st cousins: Cyril, Tony & Diana to keep a
lookout…..also to 1st cousins: Bernie, Ethel & Rita should they see her.
Then I went back to our table & continued eating.
Only 5 of us from our group were still eating when Corinne finally showed
up looking very frustrated & ticked off: she attended Father Tom’s Mass
which lasted an hr & she accidentally locked her key in her car. Corinne
finally did get served & the 5 of us waited until she was finished eating.
Gary & Rosemary, who finished first, were surprised & delighted when
Matthew agreed to go with them to see what was happening out on the picnic
grounds; the rest of the Footes left the dining room soon after. I guided
Gary J. around introducing him to many of the local people who might find
common interests with his. Both Gary’s are natural conversationalists when
it comes to meeting new people so it was a pleasure to introduce Gary J.
to many of the local people I’ve known for yrs.
During our socializing time, Gary J. & I left the crowd, walked up to the
church where Corinne had parked her car & looked closely @ the doors
trying to figure out how we could get inside without doing damage. It
didn’t take long for us to realize….we can’t!
Kathy toured Grace J. around the picnic grounds & occasionally, we would
bump into each other. It appeared that they too were having a grand ole
time. Gary & Rosemary and the Foote family left sometime during the early
afternoon.
Mid afternoon, Corinne visited us in the beer tent & announced: she has
her keys. 1st cousin Norm had asked her if she had Triple “A”? She had
forgotten & we didn’t think of asking…..so it was a relief for all of us.
Later in the afternoon, I was able to talk with both Scott & his uncle Al
in regards to meeting with them on our property on Monday. They agreed for
a 1:00 pm meet time.
The Homecoming Festival was a huge success…..1757 meals were served. Not a
record but close to it. The net profit for our annual picnic won’t be
released for @ least a few more weeks. We 4 walk back to our motorhome,
have a glass of wine & gab until 9:30pm.
Fireworks could be heard & sometimes seen as we are sitting in the living
room chatting. It was a GREAT DAY.
High temp=72 Lights out: 10:43pm
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