I just got back from a great weekend! Eduardo and I went to
Cincinnati for the “Ham Fam Reunion” as we like to call it. Every 2 years, all the
Hamiltons get together to reconnect with each other and enjoy the sights in
whatever location we chose that year. It’s a perfect balance of old traditions
and new experiences and this year was no exception!
Our busy weekend started with a rushed attempt to make it to
the first event on time. Cincinnati is about 4 hours from where we live, and
like the optimists we are, we planned to leave exactly 4 hours before it began.
Fortunately for us, we managed to get the car loaded and out the door on time –
barely. Unfortunately for us, we forgot that we were headed to the Eastern Time
Zone and would lose an hour on the way! Bummer! Thankfully I am part of a
family of latecomers because dinner was just being served as we arrived an hour
after the official start time. We enjoyed a time of pizza, many welcoming hugs,
and sharing memories of my Great Uncle Perry who recently passed away.
After dinner, we were invited by some others in the “younger
generation” to an outdoor concert in the square a few blocks from our downtown
hotel. I am one of the youngest people in my family and have dealt with many
years of missing out on whatever my older cousins were doing… so even though we
were tired from a long day, I couldn’t turn down their invitation! I am so
happy that I am married and finished with college, which is apparently what it takes
to be part of the cool crowd. ; ) We had a good time at the concert but I almost
lost my voice trying to talk / shout to my cousins over the music. Huge bummer!
On Saturday we grabbed a quick breakfast with several
relatives and then headed to King’s Island theme park. It was hot and crowded
and of course I did a lot of screaming and almost lost my voice again (boo),
but E and I had a blast spending the day with my younger brother. We are all
big roller coaster fans and we may have discovered our new favorite – The
Diamondback!! (Also I am super jealous of my brother who is on his way today to
northern Ohio where he will enjoy several of the world’s best rides at Cedar
Point!)
Once we reluctantly left the park on Saturday evening, we
headed to the next reunion event of the weekend – my Great Aunt Cara’s 90th
birthday party! Recently, my cousin and his wife moved to Cincinnati and have
been renovating a 111 year old house, where they hosted us for the party. Their
neighborhood is right on the river overlooking the downtown skyline and the
house itself was very charming. They are doing a fantastic job getting it all
ready to welcome their first baby in November! So excited for them : ) The
cookout at their place was a ton of fun, complete with an attempt to fit 40+
people on the porch for a family photo, a huge timeline of everything that has
happened in the world since Great Aunt Cara was born in 1922, adults chasing
kids chasing dogs all over the 3 story house and of course delicious burgers
and birthday cake!
On Sunday morning we gathered for our infamous family
meeting – the one where we attempt to agree on a location for our next reunion
in 2 years! This time, amazingly, the process took only a few minutes. We
unanimously voted on Atlanta, hometown of one of the cousins who agreed to
coordinate the whole event. Except for briefly driving through once, I have
never been to Georgia and I think it will be wonderful!
To finish out the weekend, a large group of my family went
to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. We managed to find seats in the shade
waaaaay up at the top but right behind home plate, and we enjoyed the
spectacular view of the river and hills behind it as we watched the Reds beat
the Brewers. We also took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some hotdogs
topped with Cincinnati chili, which is an aromatic chili with cinnamon and
chocolate in it – unusual and delicious! It was a great way to end a fun
weekend with family.
I am so thankful that my family has had these reunions
throughout my whole life. My grandparents hosted the first one back in 1990 in
Austin TX to help their kids get re-acquainted with their aunts, uncles, and
cousins after growing up in the Philippines.
Everyone had a great time so they all said, “Why not do this again in a
couple years? Maybe someone else can host it next time?” And sure enough, we’ve
gotten together somewhere new every 2 years ever since! It has been wonderful
to get to know so many people from my extended family, and even more amazing to
be able to travel with my parents and brother all around the country during my
childhood! Now the countdown begins to Atlanta 2014!
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