The 2006 Report

Holloway 2006

By Gretchen

For many of us, our family reunion at Holloway is the highlight of our summer. We in the Taylor Ten generation appreciate that our children have grown up knowing their cousins and extended family because of these wonderful annual gatherings. And now that benefit extends into the next generation.

This summer, no fewer than 67 family members came for at least part of the reunion week to enjoy the festivities. Although the “official” picture shows only nine of the original Taylors, Gretchen wants everyone to remember that she really was there, just not at the time the picture was taken. So, for Grandma and others who like to keep track of the numbers: All of the Taylor Ten were there with spouses, plus 28 from the grandchildren generation (including spouses) and 20 great-grands. A memorable picture from the week shows Grandma surrounded by 19 of her great-grandchildren, sitting on the merry-go-round at the park. Now, THAT is tradition!

For the third summer, we enjoyed catered meals under a big tent most evenings, with shish kabobs being a particular favorite. Non-catered meals included a “Thanksgiving feast” ordered from Boston Market and the traditional pizza night (with 13 large pizzas consumed in short order). The cookout at the park was another great event, with much thanks to the grillers from the M2T2W club! The softball game that afternoon had some new young participants this year, proving that the athletic genes that skipped some of us are alive and well in the youngest generation! Jonathan Ummel really knows what to do with a bat!

This reunion week was one of the hottest in memory, so the beach was well utilized. The best part about it was that the water was also the warmest in memory! When have we ever been able to play in the water, or even just sit in the shallows and talk, for hours on end? Everyone enjoyed it! The other fun water event of the week was the traditional ski day at Pine Lake--along with the usual malfunctioning of one of the jet skis which put it out of commission! Many thanks to Tim for his captaining of the ski boat for most of the day. And a round of applause for Taylor, who got up on skis for the first time! Unfortunately, one day of rain late in the week caused the cancellation of a planned pool day at the Worcesters’ in Grand Rapids. Something to look forward to next year!

In addition to the water fun, other favorite activities of the week included the bonfire and fireworks on the beach, Captain Mike’s (even if they do slow down the go-carts more each year!), several evenings of volleyball, the always-favorite Scrabble competitions, jigsaw puzzles, and a couple evenings of cross-generational games in the living room. (Grandma fooled everyone when she turned out to be the secret Mafia person!) Our worship times on both Sun. mornings were also memorable, with Chris sharing a message from the Word the first week, and several of the young children acting out the story of Ruth and Boaz the second week.

Once again, with memories of the reunion fresh in our minds, we all want to thank Grandma (and Grandpa, in absentia) for providing this wonderful place where family togetherness abounds and where traditions are now being passed down to another generation.