Oregon Get Together................................Two Spirit

Greetings and salutations from Oregon. It is Sunday morning, and the third day of the Oregon get together. So far it has been fun, fun, fun for everyone.

On Friday, MsPriss and I, along with my daughter RedRose and my granddaughter Faith, drove up to the reunion site to find Akua Tuta, Ultima, Punk Star Chick, Richard, and a couple of Akua'a neighbors sitting around chatting waiting on everyone to arrive. Some had guessed as to who the mystery guests migh be, and our arrival made it official. After greetings and hugs, we all sat around talking and having a generally fun time until everyone's favorite couple, George and Ginger arrived. Along with them came the pizza. More hugs and greetings, and then unloading the van, and we were soon chowing down on the evening meal.

After eating and chatting for a bit, we began playing a vesion of pictionary. One person would draw a card with five choices on it, and pick one to draw a picture and try to get others to guess it. Some real artistic talent was shown among those present. The game continued on until after midnight, when those of us staying in motels decided it was time to head back to town.

On Saturday, we drove back out to the site, to find only those that had roughed it were there. We unloaded our supplies from the van, and began setting up the fire for the day's cooking. Soon the grill was going, and we cooked up a batch of sausage before putting the main course of the fire, 25 pounds of pork. We began cooking about 11 AM.

During the afternoon people began coming in. George and Ginger arrived after sleeping in that morning, Akua and her sweetie Matt, along with their three dogs arrived, Enchantress and her son were there, Akua's neighbor Lynn brought her puppy with her, Moon Girl and Touramaline arrived along with Ian, and a couple of Akua's coworkers, so soon we had a small crowd of people.

While the cooking was still going on, by this time with chicken and more sausage added to the grill, chess matches soon began off on one side. Those not playing chess sat around talking, or walked over to the creek to enjoy the view and beautiful weather. Finally about 5:00, all the food was cooked, and everyone settled down to enjoy their meal.

There was more than enough food to go around, so no one was allowed to leave hungry, with ziplock bags provided so that people could take some food with them when they left. After eating, everyone broke off into various activites to relax, chess matches still going, some walking down to the creek and others mingling on the bridge, and some getting a badmitton game going.

As dark approached, the white elephant exchange began. Fun was had all around as the gift opening and "stealing" began. Everyone had a great time. With the gifts all done, another round of pictionary began. Close to midnight a few people decided to head on back, and about 1:30 others of us with rooms drove back to town to get some rest.

Here we are now on Sunday morning, and we are getting ready to leave he motel for one last trip out to the site. The plans are for hamburgers and hot dogs today, before those of us leaving today began our trips back. There are some that are staying until tomorrow before departing.

To all those on USM that have never made it to one of the get togethers, it is an event you will never forget. This is the second one that MsPiss and I have enjoyed, and we are looking forward to hosting the southern reunion next year. As the reunions continue and grow, we hope to see more people each year. This year's reunion had been a lot of fun, with even more people getting the chance to meet. We hope to see a lot more people next year, and at future events.

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