STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21973: A Congregation of Cousins

September 9, 2007 on 10:29 am | In On The Road, Family |

I’ve been a baaaad boy. It’s been over 30 days since my last posting. One of the reasons is that I was engaged in a concentrated effort to win a Saturn Vue which was the Grand Prize in the Wild Wild West’s summer giveaway. Instead of being in my truck “geeking”, I was in the Casino, earning points and chances to win the Vue. Through this effort, I became about $2000.00 richer in Casino winnings, and one of the 10 finalists in the drawing for the car. Alas, the car was won by a local taxi driver who is a regular at the WWW; a nice enough guy who I know by sight. BUT DRAT, IT WASN’T ME!!!

My travels have been mundane, mostly to and from Las Vegas. I did do a run to Bozeman, MT. Behind the Walmart to which I deliver is a “little” Casino with “big” lighting.

I guess they need it due to their obscure location. Even with the lighting, they never seem too busy.

As I was driving to Las Vegas from Corinne, UT, I took these pictures of a brush fire just outside of Cedar City, UT.

Dangerous I know, but they turned out well, considering I was traveling at 68 MPH and shooting one handed out my drivers side window.

Now on to the point of this posting. On Saturday, the 8th of September, I traveled from Las Vegas to Bakersfield for a family re-union at the home of my Uncle Doug and Aunt Helen. It was to celebrate the life of recently deceased Uncle Emery. They have a beautiful home and a well groomed yard.

I couldn’t resist showing off the macro capabilities of my camera.

The MMM (Million Mile Mutts) were relegated to the back yard, but not to worry, they received plenty of attention.

Sugar sure misses Uncle Emery.

The gathering was well attended. It was mostly all of the cousins from the McCutcheon side of the family along with their spouses and children.

Left above; A wreath for Uncle Emery.
Center; Aunt Mary, Aunt helen, Aunt Francis, Cousin Judy.
Right; Aunt Francis, Uncle Doug, Aunt helen, Aunt Mary.

Left above; Back row, Cousins Judy, Ernie, Denny, Tom, and Donald. Front row, Cousin Maryjane, Aunt Francis, Cousins Pam and Delynn
Center; Cousin Denny and his wife Paula.
Right; Cousin Judy, her husband Don, and cousin Delynn.

Left above; Cousin Denny, Aunt Francis, Cousins Pam and Tom.
Center; Maryjane’s husband Mike, Kerry, Marcos (Kerry’s friend), Kathleen, Uncle Doug, and Maryjane.
Right; My niece Dawn, Brandon (Pam’s son), Kathleen annd Kerry (Maryjane’s daughters).

It was nice to reacquaint myself with all my cousins, most of whom I hadn’t seen in decades, and meet their childern who I had never met. There was plenty of good food (which explains the way I look). The visit was all too short. It’s hard for me to visit people with my wandering ways, but i’ll try to keep in touch via the computer.