When did family reunions become fun again?

I remember distinctly Mom and Dad dragging me to many a reunion in some random park or church cultural hall. I am very certain that the following things took place at almost every reunion.

kids playedadults sat around and talked and laughed at very silly stories

older cousins (first, second, once removed doesn't really matter) who were so awesomely cool that you were a little nervous but oh so eager to hang with their crowd.

lots of good homemade food

boring programs

everyone remarking on how big I was getting

young cousins jumped right back into being friends... doesn't matter when you saw them last.

teenagers sulking

I remember about a million years ago when my Uncle Clifford and Aunt Helen's family came into to town and we got together with them for a few days and we somehow memorized all the songs in "Annie" and performed them for our parent's. Whenever I hear those songs I think of these cousins fondly.

Then I became a teen and the whole reunion thing become quite tedious and boring I remember those years well. Those teenage years through the selfish-young-twenties (sorry, that is what I call those first years in the twenties when everything is about me. Granted for good reasons but another time on that topic) anyway that must be where reunions get a bad reputation. Too bad we can't skip those years.

So my question is this. When did reunions become good things again? I just got back from the Rencher Reunion at the Homestead. It was full of...

Kids playing

lots of adults sitting around talking and laughing only now I am one of them!

older cousins although I am not afraid of most of them anymore. The younger gun-totin' ones scare me a little! It makes me wonder who is going to attack us up there in the booniest of boondocks, an escaped cow?

lots of good homemade food... foil dinners (what are these mysterious things of which you speak?), pancakes and all the protein extras, taco soup, potato bar with all the fixins plus some new yummy fixins. (I still want that pulled pork recipe, Brenda!)

boring programs (not quite so boring, especially sitting near the most sarcastic of the cousins and their spouses)

everyone remarking on how big I was getting. It wouldn't be a compliment anymore although still true. teens sitting around sulking. Another nice thing about the Homestead. Lots of room, lots of things to do, lots of fun events, lots of people with guns to shoot the teens that are sulking.

young cousins jumped right back into being friends... doesn't matter when you saw them last.

The cousins aren't so young anymore but it is amazing how we can jump right back into being friends. Maybe it is the special place that we call The Homestead, maybe it is that we are older and supposedly wiser, maybe it is that we have some of the same blood running through our veins, maybe it is because we know perfectly what "He is such a Rencher" means.

Whatever your reasons. I am a fan.

disclaimer: Photos do not necessarily reflect what is being mentioned. Jacqui is not the most sarcastic. Brenda may not be actually bored but then again...