The Gathering

Newport Beach by day - 2008

Newport Beach by night - 2008

One of my favorite times of the year is rolling around again, second only to Christmas. It's our Newport Beach family reunion. My sister and I dreamed up this tradition 10 years ago because our children were getting older, and we wanted to be sure that at least once a year the entire family we grew up in (and the families we have made) would have a chance to reunite, rebond, and relax!

We chose a beachfront house close to the Balboa Pier because my husband's family had been going there forever, and we were already in the habit of visiting them once a year to enjoy their digs. In other words, my kids had already connected with the place, and we felt sure everyone else's kids would too.

Initially, most of my extended family booked units in the same 4-plex we rented. (One of my sisters lives in Huntington Beach, so she was already set). In those early days, we all stayed for the entire week, and it was great being at such close quarters for an extended period of time.

Later, as my immediate family grew, we had to move a block or so down the street, where we found an upstairs and downstairs combo with room for all. As my siblings' families got older, their accommodations and availability changed, too, but they have never failed to put aside at least a weekend to spend time with us, reuniting our entire family of origin and as many of the cousins as possible. And the grandparents (our parents) have continued to join us, too...for as long as they can stand the noise and confusion...plus another day or two!

What I love most of all is the chance to have every one of my children and grandchildren together for a full week with no distractions...not even a holiday celebration (although we do manage a couple of birthdays while we're there). We just play, talk, and relax...day after day and night after night. As always, both meaningful and superficial little traditions have developed: a family testimony meeting, a hotly contested basketball game, a visit to the tide pools, a food fest at Joe's Crab Shack, a burger and shake at Ruby's, a beachy circletime, a round of deep sea fishing, a visit to the local surf shop, a night at the Fun Zone, a bonfire and s'mores on the beach, a horseshoe tourney, a new kite to fly, a girl's morning out, and more. One of the things I like best is sitting out on the front porch at night listening to the ocean, watching all the people on the boardwalk go by and talking to people I love most about anything and everything that matters to us. There is literally nothing better than this.

The family is gathering. And life is good.

=)

The Gathering

©2009 Susan Noyes Anderson

The greatest joy in life is found

where love and loyalty abound.

What sweeter sight...what dearer sound,

than all the family, gathered 'round?