!!! Yes !!!
--- Cassius Rhue
Let me start off by saying that this was an absolutely phenomenal family reunion weekend. I enjoyed myself tremendously, and based on the stories from the girls, so did they. We just overwhelmed Trish with stories Sunday night and all day Monday.
So, my reflections actually go back to the fun that started on Thursday night. At the house we started the reunion off by laughing about who was and was not going to the service project in the morning. The girls and I had no shortage of laughs at Joshua's list, the excuses my girls were trying to make to not go, and laughing about just the idea of working on a house in general.
When we got up that morning the laughter and fun started early. Momma faked us all out by playing around in the kitchen with coffee. We all thought she was making breakfast for the Habitat volunteers. Sike! The joke was on us. When we got ready to leave there was no breakfast. And then Sydney and I burned what little bit of sausage we tried to quickly cook before leaving. Cassarra and Gabbi were some kind of hot about having to work on empty. Joshua wasn't exactly thrilled either.
Once at the actual house we had a blast. I mean, I really enjoyed the Habitat House. I enjoyed working alongside my family (siblings and cousins). I enjoyed using the power drill and hammer. I laughed my butt off with Joshua, Aimee and Denise as we worked on putting nails into the siding. Notice, I didn't say I enjoyed using the caulk gun. The caulking was the least favorite thing. My caulk gun just leaked all over the place. It was messy and time consuming. I think the word we used was tedious. Now, painting was different. Painting was fun. The girls painted from the start and after finishing our side we joined them. It was lots of fun laughing at bathroom breaks, port-a-potty humor, dancing, music, and jokes. There were some humorous comments that had dual meanings and Joshua's snickering let us know each time something was said in a way that we didn't really intend. Denise and I told him we were surprised. He calmly replied that he wasn't a little kid. And again he snickered.
It was so nice to learn more about the family that we don't get to see that often, or talk to other than "Hi," "Hello" and "How are you doing?" It was so cool when Thornell dropped the "Oh yeah, I saw her (Rihanna) at the Grammy's" comment. He was so casual, like "no big deal." I enjoyed family members talking about their personal accomplishments in education, business, and travel. I loved to hear about who has a new business, stepped out on their own, and who is doing well in their work and life. I enjoyed Paula's story about her grandkids, the trip down and her mom. I loved hearing about Leslie's family and her siblings. I enjoyed celebrating Jennifer Hudson's accomplishments and hearing of her future plans. Plus, when we were finished we had painted the whole house with a first coat of paint. I did, however, forget to pay Joshua back for rubbing paint down my shoulders and cleaning his hands on my nice shirt. I will save the painting a stripe up his back for another occasion.
So, my reflections actually go back to the fun that started on Thursday night. At the house we started the reunion off by laughing about who was and was not going to the service project in the morning. The girls and I had no shortage of laughs at Joshua's list, the excuses my girls were trying to make to not go, and laughing about just the idea of working on a house in general.
When we got up that morning the laughter and fun started early. Momma faked us all out by playing around in the kitchen with coffee. We all thought she was making breakfast for the Habitat volunteers. Sike! The joke was on us. When we got ready to leave there was no breakfast. And then Sydney and I burned what little bit of sausage we tried to quickly cook before leaving. Cassarra and Gabbi were some kind of hot about having to work on empty. Joshua wasn't exactly thrilled either.
Once at the actual house we had a blast. I mean, I really enjoyed the Habitat House. I enjoyed working alongside my family (siblings and cousins). I enjoyed using the power drill and hammer. I laughed my butt off with Joshua, Aimee and Denise as we worked on putting nails into the siding. Notice, I didn't say I enjoyed using the caulk gun. The caulking was the least favorite thing. My caulk gun just leaked all over the place. It was messy and time consuming. I think the word we used was tedious. Now, painting was different. Painting was fun. The girls painted from the start and after finishing our side we joined them. It was lots of fun laughing at bathroom breaks, port-a-potty humor, dancing, music, and jokes. There were some humorous comments that had dual meanings and Joshua's snickering let us know each time something was said in a way that we didn't really intend. Denise and I told him we were surprised. He calmly replied that he wasn't a little kid. And again he snickered.
It was so nice to learn more about the family that we don't get to see that often, or talk to other than "Hi," "Hello" and "How are you doing?" It was so cool when Thornell dropped the "Oh yeah, I saw her (Rihanna) at the Grammy's" comment. He was so casual, like "no big deal." I enjoyed family members talking about their personal accomplishments in education, business, and travel. I loved to hear about who has a new business, stepped out on their own, and who is doing well in their work and life. I enjoyed Paula's story about her grandkids, the trip down and her mom. I loved hearing about Leslie's family and her siblings. I enjoyed celebrating Jennifer Hudson's accomplishments and hearing of her future plans. Plus, when we were finished we had painted the whole house with a first coat of paint. I did, however, forget to pay Joshua back for rubbing paint down my shoulders and cleaning his hands on my nice shirt. I will save the painting a stripe up his back for another occasion.
But seriously, just think about it, a family with a legacy of building homes and helping the community came together to build a house and help the community. Not many families would think about doing this, let alone do it even in the middle of the reunion. This idea should become a part of every, every reunion going forward. Some contribution to the community along the lines of the pioneers of the family.
Now, while not technically part of the reunion experience, I got the chance to participate in one of the biggest and messiest tractor bogs in Felix H. Rhue history. Daddy won the prize for getting his big blue tractor stuck. We had a time getting it out, and the memories of this episode will last a lifetime. I even took some pictures just to remind myself of how bad it was. So while not a reunion event, it just seemed to fit with the whole reunion.
The banquet was a hit. The venue was great. The information about Sam C. Rhue and his family was a big hit all by itself. It was so interesting to see the census data, to be able to trace our roots back that far, and to have records - actual records for granddaddy and great-granddaddy. It was cool to even see that at one point his name was misspelled Rue or spelled Rue, and that granddaddy was spelled Phelix. I loved seeing the little sheets that described how we came to be one of the most amazing, accomplished and diverse families. I learned about an aunt that I didn't know about, put some pieces of the family puzzle together with more clarity, and had some cool new facts to add to my family tree. I couldn't wait to tell Trish about the misspelling and great aunt that I didn't know about.
The appetizers were a bit hit, especially the different dips and pita bread. Once we moved to the actual banquet, things continued to get better. The program was really nice. It was nice, neat, short and sweet. I appreciated having a legacy table and the significance of it. The tributes to those who passed away was the right touch, and definitely a good reminder to make use of the reunion and the time between reunions. Aunt Roberta giving the legacy and history of her father was very memorable.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and making connections with aunts and uncles and cousins. I count it a victory having been able to meet some cousins I didn't know and re-acquaint myself with some that I had just not seen much of. I loved talking more and more with those that I grew up with, like Elka and Monique and Terri. I am thankful that the reunion group worked so hard on creating the environment where interactions had to take place. Not to large so that we didn't have to interact. Not too small that all interactions seemed forced and coerced.
The food at the banquet wasn't what I expected after hearing rumors of shrimp and grits. But the salmon slices were delicious and the dessert was worth the sugar rush and crash. Emma and I shared three slices of the lemon or key-lime pie. I'm not sure what kind it was and truthfully we didn't care what kind it was - it was just that good. Ava downed as much fruit as her little mouth could hold and both Ava and Emma loved the free refills on drinks. They also took advantage of every cousin (known and unknown) that allowed them to have another unsupervised drink moment. All of the girls in my crew and many other crews loved the bread rolls. And I enjoyed the flavor of the rice. My favorite was the salad, especially when I had it drenched in dressing. While baked fried chicken isn't the same as baked or fried, the flavor of my piece was good and I won't complain.
The best of the banquet was the dancing. The line dancing from registration was cool, but after the banquet all of the dancing was so much fun. I just enjoyed the variety of dancing and dance styles. I loved seeing generations together on the dance floor. I think at one point Uncle Sam was swaying om pr near the floor along with nieces and grandnieces. Now, there flavor was a lot more ... um something... than his. I laughed at some of the little kids on the stage, like Ava, Emma and Benjamin. They would shake their butts and twist their hips like they knew what they were doing. Again the venue was just right for the dancing. The stage was the perfect place for the little kids. Not too high that they might really get hurt, and out of the way of the more "polished" club crowd trying to really throw down. The night was so much fun that Emma crashed hard once we got home - fantastic! Even after the banquet I took my girls and Joshua to get a late night snack. We haven't done that since they were in middle school or high school. Back at home we swapped stories and ate pizza until after 12. It was so worth the late night and the early morning that followed.
The breakfast was beautiful and delicious. The food was outstanding and the selections were very fitting. The grits and sausage casserole were really well done and they tasted amazing. I'm biased of course, but the food was really good no matter who you asked. The time at the tables before the presentations was filled with jokes, laughter and recapping the dancing and fun from Friday night. The presenters were good. No, check that, excellent. The information on "Heirs Property" was perfect for a family like ours with so much property, so many heirs, and in an area that is growing rapidly with development and a potential target for land grabs. I was glad to see lights coming on with various family members and having them realize that we should work together to protect our family's land legacy, even as we preserve the other aspects of the legacy. I found the first speaker to be so engaging, refreshing and surprising. He had great presence. Even the second speaker did a great job telling jokes and making moments of laughter for the weekend. I also enjoyed the Gullah display that was provided outside. Kudos to Katina for sending the kids downstairs so they weren't as disruptive.
Even the family meeting with all of its back and forth was excellent. We were talking, engaged and passionate. Negative gave way to positive and the desire to really make the reunion better for all. I was excited about the fact that once again we had multiple generations involved in the discussion and present in the room.
Words and time escape me to describe how much fun the cookout was. The venue of the Waccammaw Recreational Center was perfect. I don't use that word lightly. It was perfect for the family and the event. It was large enough to give everyone room for multiple activities. There was room for basketball on two different ends (games and goofing off). I saw several people using the walking track. There was room for the little kids and enough things for them to do to stay busy. The hoola-hoops, the bean toss, the face painting, and the jump rope stations provided lots of choices. Plus those who wanted to watch had the bleachers to sit and enjoy all the action. The Olympic games were fun, even if my hands had rope burn the rest of the day. It was so much fun just competing and still having some free form time to just chill. All of the competitors enjoyed "red light"
In addition to all the room I thought it was perfect because we weren't exposed to the elements. It had AC, we didn't have to go out in the rain, and we didn't get exposed to wind and lightning. Plus, the doors and the multiple chaperones helped with keeping the "little ones" within reasonable boundaries. Emma felt free to roam, and the eyes from the bleachers, my eyes, and family eyes helped her stay safe. Plus the curtain kept errant basketballs from becoming tactile missiles for unsuspecting little people.
The food was delicious. I loved the coleslaw and the Beaufort stew. I placed the coleslaw on a hamburger bun with chili and a burger patty and threw down. It was so good I planned to go make myself another one, but I was so stuffed after just one burger that I decided against it. The chicken was also a big hit for me. I had a piece with a lot of sauce and one that was mostly free of sauce. They were both great and yes, it was worth the extra workout. Well, it will be once I get back to working out.
You know, at the gym I saw so many people sitting and talking that it was just, well wonderful.
You know, at the gym I saw so many people sitting and talking that it was just, well wonderful.
Even the clean up after the cookout was fun. So many cousins and siblings pulled together to start cleaning up. We mopped, laughed, folded tables and chairs, dumped trash, ragged on each other, wiped up, packed up, and laughed some more. We hustled and cleaned up in record time and it didn't really feel like work. The man at the gym was impressed, and that is what we are about. Our family is impressive and our family is one of tremendous character and good work ethic. As if I didn't laugh enough during it all, perhaps my biggest laugh came when Emma walked out of the gym and headed straight for the grill. As the cook was still cooking for his next event, Emma asked him for a piece of chicken. He obliged. It was very nice of him. She proceeded to make room at the outside table to eat - I had to pry her away and back to the car. He even gave Paige a piece of chicken - even though I'm sure she didn't really need one. And I could go on about how good it was to see Matthew and Joshua playing with each other and including Jaziah. I even managed to enjoy not winning the game of "Knock Out." Now that was fun. All of the girls and guys were so excited to be in the game and the thrill of knocking each other out was exhilarating. Matthew and Clifton dueling to the end, with Matthew going for the dunk to seal his sweep of all the games we played of "Knock Out."
Craig provided flashbacks of how he used to coach us to use our left hand on the other end of the court. He provided lessons to one of Hudsons. Alexandria and I laughed at how we remembered those "You aren't going right" days of playing against Craig.
Craig provided flashbacks of how he used to coach us to use our left hand on the other end of the court. He provided lessons to one of Hudsons. Alexandria and I laughed at how we remembered those "You aren't going right" days of playing against Craig.
And I know it wasn't technically a part of the weekend, but the trip to see the cows with all the girls plus Solomon, Tammy, Cheryl, Christen, CJ, Clifton and our crew was fun. We laughed about times gone by; shelling peas, chasing cows, working, laughing, and getting spankings. I got to see Daddy just beaming with pride, enjoying his story time, and sharing one of his many diverse passions. The other being bogging the tractor. :)
The drop in (aka after party) at W.I.S.H was a nice ending to the evening. The food was a surprise. I wasn't expecting additional food, but it was delicious and much appreciated. Again the dancing and the interactions were so memorable. Christen became a dance superstar with her rendition of the running man. Ava and Emma and Benjamin playing "big kids" was classic and I just wished I took more pictures. Not to mention finally seeing Vince dance instead of hearing about how good he was and how his version of "such and such" dance is off the chain. And then Joshua! Joshua took the floor and he was electric. The way the whole group surrounded him and hyped him up was something to behold. We are family and it was on full display on the dance floor. I had several moments of "I didn't know he/she could dance like that." I like several others just enjoyed a gathering of family where we were creating memories and enjoying life, not recalling memories and celebrating the end of a life. I had my fill of the food and the boneless wings were very good. I tried to stay away from the cake, but when I saw it was nearly gone I relented. Boy was it good. Now I can see why it didn't last that long at the after party. Aside from Emma riding the elevator "by herself" which actually turned out to be with Felicia once and with Tina twice, I had no issues. Did I tell you that I loved the venue?
You know you have had fun when even the cleanup leads you to laughing. Seeing Vincent and Clifton and Solomon making jokes as they emptied cups, cleared off plates and folded up table cloths was just another way the night was special. Leslie and her crew, plus the other cousins who stayed to pitch in reminded me of why our family is one of a kind. We cleaned that place and we did it in record time.
But, even after all of this the night wasn't over. Solomon took us back in the time machine and back to when we used to gather around and shoot fireworks. Emma was so tuckered out that she missed it all, and Ava got enough for her taste buds. The real enjoyment came in the teens and CJ. You would have thought none of us ever had fireworks before with all of our moments of "ooh and ahhh." It was so loud and bright with the different sparklers, bottle rockets, candles and cannons. Even at midnight! The funny thing is, momma said she slept through the whole thing. That tells you that people really enjoyed themselves a lot. I know I did.
The closeout was worship service. I looked over the audience to see pastors, singers, preachers, evangelists, lay leaders, current and future disciples of Christ among the legacy of Sam C. Rhue. And even after worship service was over, the spirit of reunion and family was so strong.
So, thank you all for making the reunion a blast. We have been telling and re-telling our stories since Friday. Each time I hear someone's experience I realize that there is so much more that went on that I forgot about. Like right now, I forgot about all of the funny moments with getting dressed at momma's house - Emma running free out of the bathtub and Joshua replying "Come on Emma!" Or the snoring episodes that forced Matthew to change rooms. I almost forgot about how quickly everyone raided the fridge after the "Don't eat from this fridge by order of management" sign came down. I can't tell you how hilarious it was to pack the mini-van up with an extra rider and hear Sydney and Paige complain about whose butt was over the line. I can't say thanks enough for the fun Ziah had being a part of the family and having so many cousins know his name and keep him included in the fun. In fact, Matthew did loads for him just by letting him ride in the Jeep.
Anyway, I just wanted to send you some of my thoughts and recap for myself. I loved it all. I love you all. Thank you.
--
Cassius
--- Cassius Rhue
"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" (Job 28:28)Love is irresistible, irrefutable, undeniable. Nothing rises to it. The dark side of our character has no weapon against it. It's our trump card. - Jim Daly
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