Vikings, we are a long way from it.

Our family has been in a race, the race to live and conquer the world, this time without all the raping and pillaging.  We have changed from the Vikings into who we are now.  We’ve followed different currents but a reunion brings us closer, tightens the roots of the family tree

It’s fun to remember our common starting point, where we come from.   We are going to be celebrating the widening sphere of the Johnson family from the Westlake area, the family tree of Steini and Margaret Johnson.  It’s fun to think back about them and see what they have started and how much we have changed.  It’s a chance to celebrate those differences now and not stay rooted in the past. 

Think about it, 21 people are named Johnson on the Reunion Facebook page, but ¾ have different last names.  None of us need to change our last names on Facebook to be funny or stop people from finding us, we are individuals and proud of our names.

It’s a chance to meet with other success stories in our family, possibly develop mentors from family members who do what you want to do.  The reunion is a good time to come together, to remember where we come from and give us strength and support as we continue life.

I’m trying to figure out if we will have enough space for all the craziness that will go down at this Reunion.  The Johnson Reunion 2012 is rounding into shape; there is a general outline of the weekend that will be sent out by mail soon. It’s a chance to be memorable and we are hoping all ages can participate in every activity and create memories as a group.

Sonja is organizing some activities for Saturday night after a catered dinner.  Conrad will host a history trivia contest, all Johnson facts.  It can be a family joke (I know you all have one), special location or place with family history, certain years where something big happened or remembering certain people.

Example “Who read the tea leaves and foretold futures”   Violet   “What year did the cream boat run from Bay End to Steep Rock” Not really sure, check your Patience, Pride and Progress for that story “How many families actually lived in Larkspur in the 1940’s?” Anyone?

we found this hot little diddy...someone composed a family song!

I suggest you read Patience, Pride and Progress and the other histories, ask your family about information, we want everyone to have suggestions or something that surprised you. There are lots of stories about the 13 Johnson children, many have been written in various histories and told and retold at parties but we have less about the other generations, of the people who are descendants of this great family. 

Anyone can send information, “facts,” whether jokes, locations, years, children.  Send them to Sonja at her email sonjal@mymts.net.  She is a little swamped with figuring out her iPad but she will put together the ideas.

 On Sunday, everyone can have fun with skits and a role playing charade game.  There were some pictures posted by Steina Wakefield Erlendson on the Facebook group page and there is good one, a skit at Olive and Violet’s 90^th Birthday party.  It shows the twins over their life with Kyla, Dayna, Erin and Ella dressed as the twins at different ages.  Hilarious.

Last Sunday, Luella had a 90^th birthday celebration party organized by her children, their spouses and grandchildren in Ste. Rose.  It was supposed to be a tea but it turned into dinner and I heard they had some fun later on in the evening.

A whole bunch of Johnson’s and friends from the Eddystone and Ste. Rose areas were there and everyone got loud.  Brett made a great point that Luella is the perfect wingman, accomplice, sidekick but she doesn’t seek the spotlight.  That day Luella was excited to be the centre of attention for once. 

But now I realize why she didn’t like to be the centre of attention, her sisters teased her.  Grace, Audrey, Freda (none were innocent, although Grace was the most guilty) decided to play a prank on Luella!

We will have similar fun at the reunion, with 48 hours to hang out with family and make deeper connections.  People will be having fun and you can do things, you may not have a chance to for another twenty years, or ever.  And it’s a time to start relationships with people so you can continue them at other functions.  The Facebook page is great, seeing as we have the collective Johnson facebook profiles, add everybody before the reunion (but be sure to keep them under the right privacy setting if you plan on posting crazy pictures)

the beautiful children

kissing the baby

leonard ( 93 ) and luella ( 90 )

homemade and baked with love

tribute to luella from her family

full gathering

make a wish birthday girl!!!

We are still fleshing out the photo booth area, still looking for backgrounds and foregrounds but there will be some fun things to pose with.  The background is important as it cast everyone in the same light, it’s easier for the photographer to get great photos.  It offers continuity in the photographs for the future Johnsons who look at the photos and will know that those pictures were taken at the Family Reunion 2012.