Monday, July 19, 2010

21st Family Gathering

Holly opened her arms and welcomed us to our annual family picnic/barbeque last Saturday. The pool was cool on that hot day in Nevada City.

Davis and Victor drove me up to the gathering. We stopped at a marvelous bakery in Sacramento called Freeport Bakery on our way. If you are ever in the area be sure to stop by for their delicious flaky pastries.

Holly and Jon’s house was the new gathering location this year. It is a lovely place. It was so good to get hugs from everyone. I hadn’t seen little Joey, my great grandson, since May of last year. He and his dad (my grandson, Joseph) are handsome fellows.

Here is a photo of my brother-in-law Butch (on the left) and Jon (on the right).

I wondered why Butch was using a cane. He is the guy that goes on 100-mile bike rides several times a month and shorter ones several times a week. I asked him about the cane and he told me, “They were having a hip-replacement sale in Truckee on Thursday, so I rode my bike there and got one.” What?

Yes, he really had a hip replacement on Thursday, July 15th and was walking around at the family party on Saturday, the 17th. He had his x-rays to prove it and his wife, Virginia, verified it.

He told the real story. He did go up to Truckee on Thursday for a long bike ride. He stopped for coffee and when he got back on his bike to continue his ride, the wheel hit a rock and he went down with the bike. He called Virginia on his cell phone. She was on her way to the Sacramento airport to pick up her daughter and grandsons who were flying in for the family gathering. He, or someone standing by, called 911 and Butch was taken to the hospital. Virginia rushed up the mountains from Sacramento.

Butch said the Truckee hospital is really good for broken bones because it is in a ski resort area and deals with lots of them in the winter. That very afternoon, Butch was in surgery having a hip replacement. The doctors gave him permission to leave the hospital on Friday because his recovery was remarkable and they trusted him to do his exercises.

Butch is looking forward to stationary bike exercises, which he can start in two weeks. That is a story no one will be able to top at next year’s gathering.
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Nephew Michael drove up from Southern California and took some beautiful candid portraits. He gave me permission to “borrow” some of them from his Flicker site.

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7 Comments:

Blogger JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

What a lovely family! I'm so glad you could all get together.

9:15 PM  
Blogger Gerrie said...

So nice to gather with family. I am looking forward to seeing mine in August. The hip replacement story is a testament to modern medicine, I guess!

10:18 PM  
Blogger Del said...

Looks like it was a fun day. I remember in my childhood when I had a family the reunions were just so special. As for Butch, what wonders are done by modern surgeons and what a great patient Butch must be for them to cut him loose so soon. Good luck to him.
Love, Del-at-home

11:32 PM  
Blogger black bear cabin said...

looks like a great time was had by all! the photos are wonderful, and im sure the memories created were even better! Thank you for sharing...i enjoyed the photos! :)

11:49 PM  
Blogger Meggie said...

Wonderful reunion. Lovely to see your Grandson and Great Grandson.
And, to see you, of course.

12:26 AM  
Anonymous Patsy said...

The entire Thresh-Howes family are incredible! I wimped out because of the heat and the long drive in my under-air conditioned car (whine!) and missed this wonderful gathering. Thanks to you Christine, I haven't totally missed it....these pictures and the stories are wonderful!!! Thank you

12:03 PM  
Blogger Vicky aka Stichr said...

What a wonderful summer day! And thank you again to 'taking me home to places i belong'!

12:42 PM  

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