#rmdo Blankenship Reunion

First meal was at Smokey Bones! Yummm!

When I married into Mary's family I married into the tradition of going to the Blankenship Family Reunion every summer in Sprinfield, Illinois. Mary's mother, Almeda, is 86, and this year her children Dave, Lois, and Mary escorted her to the Reunion. I tagged along.

The Reunion centers around the 13 children of Elizabeth Blankenship, who mas married twice.

Almeda and Denzil, her half sister.

Almeda and her children, David, Lois, and my wife Mary, all had a delightful time at the Blankenship Family Reunion. Almeda was one of 13 children, the oldest sister and surrogate mom for the younger siblings. Mary remembers coming to the Reunion for perhaps 30 years.

David has been coming for 5 years, taking Mom and sometimes Mary with him. Last year was my first year, since I joined the family by marriage.

Saturday night Almeda's clan met at the motel, then walked over to Smokey bones for our first meal together.

Sunday at noon we all met one of the Springfield Parks for the reunion.

Bill is the spotlight of the Reunion!

David, Lois, Mary, their mother Almeda, and myself finished the day at Applebee's just across the road from the Comfort Suites here in Springfield. We ate light, had salads, took half of it home, but couldn't resist the deserts. Mary and I had the apple pie al a mode, Dave had the triple chocolate melt down with ice  cream, while Lois and Almeda had the warm brownie bites with ice cream.

Bill sings to his sister Almeda while
sister Denzil listens

Monday we had breakfast at IHOP, the Almeda's clan joined me as I searched for my Mom and Dad's grave site. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the two clans burial plots, Dittmer/Sinclair and the Blankenships, were at the same cemetery, and separated by only 50 yards! (Remember, Mary and I met on the interenet in our 60's, after our first spouses had passed away. She is from Michigan, and I am from Indiana.)

Linda, the youngest Blankenship sibling,
is close to Mary's age, her niece!

The Blankenship family met on Monday night at Ryan's Steak House. Bill sang a very touching song to Almeda at the end of the dinner.

"A good time was had by all!"

Mary's family visiting
 my families grave site.

Breakfast at IHOP

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