Photographs and Memories – A Family Reunion

Over the July 4^th holiday, my husband’s family (ok—well—mine too!) held a Family Reunion. We also celebrated the life of our sweet “Whitey P-Pops,” my brother-in-law, Soren Richard Thomsen, who left us on February 26, 2024.

Scott’s family was “born” in 1934, when his oldest brother Bill was born to parents William W. Holman and Jeanne Smith. Scott became the youngest of seven, even after two step-siblings were added to the family in 1956, following Jeanne’s death in 1954.

I tell you all these details so you can understand the breadth of this family. From the original seven siblings, the family grew to more than 65 individuals. Sadly, only two of the original siblings remain, Scott and his oldest sister, Jeanne.

It is an amazing family. Often, when a patriarch and/or matriarch passes on, families grow apart. Instead, this clan seems even closer than ever. I credit the elder generation with this. As the sixteen grandchildren grew, Scott and his siblings made sure the cousins stayed in contact. Sure, not everyone maintained the same level of connection, but they’re close enough that a couple of the cousins organized the wonderful reunion we just experienced!

In preparation for the reunion, Scott had a brilliant idea—to create a book with photographs by generation to assist the younger ones in learning their relatives. This idea morphed into a larger project, a book that will also include memories of our time together this past week.

But, how to make sure we get all the pictures? We needed individual and group photos. Like most families, gathering large groups can be daunting. And I didn’t want Scott to have to spend all his time attempting to photograph every individual.

I went to my thinking place (the bathroom!) and immediately the answer presented itself—a family Scavenger Hunt. I set about creating a table with all the family members, organized by generation and color-coded by family, each generation a lighter shade than the previous.

The original seven siblings and their spouses are labeled Generation 1, the sixteen children of those (and their significant others) are labeled Generation 2 and the twenty-one members of the youngest crew, Generation 3. There are actually two children in Generation 4, but adding lines for them would have meant an additional page and I was trying to keep the sheet to one page, front and back! (But don’t worry, I put them on their parents’ lines.)

The idea of the Scavenger Hunt was for each person to speak with as many people as possible, learn one new fact about them and take a selfie which would get sent to me.

There were forty people present, so that was a busy time! Some people formed alliances and worked as a team! Even the youngest six got involved, although seven-year-old Abe responded with “hotdog” no matter what question had been asked.

I have been part of this family close to fifty years. I learned a bunch! Some of what was gathered will be sprinkled throughout the book we will create. Some information will return to whence it came to protect the innocent.

The last time there was a family gathering of this size was perhaps in 2007, at the Thomsen’s beach cottage in Guilford. So, it was only natural that the picture taken that day was recreated. A bunch of cousins present in 2007 weren’t present this year and there were some replacements, but the general idea remains.

The reunion was more than just a gathering; it was a celebration of our shared history and a reminder of the bonds that tie us together. Through laughter and stories, we honored the past and embraced the future. The Scavenger Hunt not only helped us capture precious memories but also strengthened our connections, old and new.

Last night I read a blog post by my friend Cynthia Young. She posted the latest chapter of her forthcoming book, in which she wrote about the importance of taking photographs to memorialize those who have gone. Immediately Jim Croce’s song, Photographs and Memories popped into my mind.

As we look forward to compiling our book of photographs and memories, I’m filled with gratitude for this extraordinary family. It’s a testament to the love and dedication of the older generation that we remain so close. We’ve proven that even as the years pass and we lose some of our cherished members, the spirit of unity endures.

Here’s to the legacy of family, to the joy of reunions, and to the promise of many more gatherings in the years to come. Family is not just an important thing; it’s everything.