Plenty of pictures. You can get the abridged version, with just an overview. Or, get the complete set. Just click on the individual photos to get full sized versions for personal download!
We've got two different perspectives on the events. Judge for yourself:
Habari! As you've seen through email exchanges, it appears that everyone really enjoyed the reunion, as did I! Conner summed it up best in a previous email. For me, my pc rafikis truely are so very special and important. You guys help me aim higher and remind me of the importance of giving! It's so easy to get caught up in day-to-day life! Asante sana to all of you! I am already missing your very company!
As Conner also mentioned, for those that were unable to attend, it really is wonderful reconnecting with all the old rafikis. Kudos to Mark for trying to put together a fund for the next reunion. I know some folks were unable to attend because of finances - hopefully this won't be a reason for not attending in the future. Harambe! Everyone should try to come to the next reunion. These are the only reunions I ever want to attend!
For a recap of the reunion weekend:
Mark's car breaks down in beautiful Tucamcari, NM! Pole sana, however he persevered with his family and made it to Deborah's house that evening (albeit, with a lighter wallet)! Some of his family (the ones allergic to cats) stayed at a motel and the rest had a slumber party at Deborah's house! Chris & Joani arrive at mine and we have a very nice visit!
Chris, Joani, Robin (a graduate school friend of mine), and I hit Sam's Club with full force! Three huge shopping carts (Sam's club style) full of food. I've never bought this much food before! Because of record-breaking temps here, we also stocked up on lots of ice. We then hauled everything out to the cabins and stocked the rooms. Joanna and Anya met Ross and Amelia at the airport.
Joanna took them back to the place she was staying in Scottsdale so that Amelia could play in the pool. Phoenix area also had record-breaking temps last week!
Nearly everyone else slowly met up at the cabins in Flagstaff. Chris & Joani had made wonderful chili for that evening's meal and Deborah made the corn bread. It was excellent! Of course, there was great music and lively discussions! Everyone met Eve's wonderful and very very sweet adopted dogs, Big Girl and Sugar. They were pretty hesitant for the first couple of days with all the loud adults around (so was everyone else in the neighborhood!), but then really began to feel at home! Eve, I'm really glad you brought them along - I know it was more work for you.
Later that night, a few of us stayed up for some few pombes (not surprisingly, Joanna and Conner were two in attendance), primarily discussing the very important issue of the digestive track! Ahhh yes, the good 'ol days! Sarah (with the "H"), Tripp and his wife Chia Huei weren't able to make it into town until Friday.
The day begins slowly with coffee, bagels, and yes - the planning. Things really haven't changed all that much since the days at the 680 where we'd meet in the lobby trying to decide what to do! I think this is our way of life and have accepted it as such! Plans were finalized and here's how that day played out....
A group of folks went on a hike to Mount Morman. Because of the temps and altitude, this was challenging, but they persevered. Poor Eve's girls were really hot and had to return early. Ross and I had the "little kids hike". This was an adventure! We saw an old graveyard and bones (put there by the lodge), and hiked up a hill where we had juicy boxes and snacks! We all enjoyed the hike and the kids were great. Conner's son Nils, Mark's son Salavador, and Ross went a bit further on the hike while I took the younger ones back. Let it be known that Nils is definitely Conner's son! While we were hiking, those that wanted to hang out made lunches for everyone! Tripp and Chia Huei arrived at the lodge that morning!
Baadaye hike, most of us packed up the lunches and went to a rest area just below the nearby ski area called Snowbowl for lunch. After lunch, part of the group went to hike in the lava tubes and the rest went on the ski-lift ride at snowbowl. Everyone enjoyed their outings or just hanging out!
There was a one-hour horseback ride that started at 5pm at the lodge. This was great. Of course, we suffered the next day - especially Conner (good story over a pombe sometime) - but it was worth it!
Friday night was bbq night! Chris & Joani brought nyama ya mbuzi for everyone and Deborah made ugali & sukuma! There also were hot dogs, hamburgers, salad, and tons more food! We all ate and ate and ate...
Sarah finally arrives to a very warm welcome. It made some of us think that we should show up late to the next reunion just for such a greeting! Folks were sharing their picture albums that night and remembering old times. That night, Sarah, Joanna, and Conner kept me up way past my bedtime - but it was well worth it! You only get to hear certain stories over pombe late at night. Always entertaining! The moon was outstanding!
After breakfast, we were ready to visit the Grand Canyon! Some folks stayed behind to enjoy the peace and quiet of the lodge without the rest of us! The canyon is of course very "Grand" indeed and very overwhelming! Some of the group hiked down the Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5 mile rest house and the rest of us wimps took the shuttle bus out to Hermits Rest. This is a beautiful little trip and well worth the time - even if the temps were record breaking! We left Grand Canyon Village and headed out the east rim to view the sites out there, stopping at the major attractions. It was quite a day, very enjoyable!
Our original plan was to eat at a restaurant this evening, but there was sooooo much food left over that we decided to cancel the reservations and have another bbq. This was a great decision! So, we ate leftovers, took group photos, and hung out! Those that didn't go to the canyon set up a "theater" where we had a slide show and really reminisced about our time back in Kenya. There was the usual nagging about the safi sana government schools and housing vs the harambe schools and housing (if you could call it that!). Sarah commented that one of our Kenyan homes would probably sell for about $200,000 in San Diego! It was great fun and so nice to see the pictures and share old memories (and jokes, ribbing...).
Again, some of us stayed up way past our bedtimes (oh, that was me) to share more stories, pombe, and the great outdoors. Sarah and Conner went to the bar just to show us that they could purchase beer to go just before closing time, (we didn't need anymore beer, but they proved their point!).
A very sad day indeed! It was the end of the reunion and everyone was saying kwaheri and hugging! I think all of us were so glad that we were able to attend! Peace Corps friends are the best - you just pick up where you left off. It's so easy, comfortable, warming, and enjoyable. More pictures were taken and additional stories told! What a wonderful weekend!
Wow! Does Nancy have her rose colored glasses on. Here's what really happened at the reunion.
I can't tell you much of what happened until I arrived Thursday, but it didn't take long for things to get rolling. As Nancy said, Chris had made a large pot of sumptuous smelling chile. I helped myself to a large bowl of it and must admit it was delicious. I first stirred around with the ladle, and later with my spoon to find some MEAT, but alas there were just sundry roots and berries in the concoction. Despite the great taste, I was minimally concerned with kernels and beans that were prominent.
Joanna and I decided to go check out the country bar at the lodge, and oh what a country bar it was. We had a couple of beers and returned to the group (60 meters) only to find that Nils was the first casualty of the reunion, having fallen and ripping of the skin on his palm. Eve was on the scene and administering first aid. Which meant I had to suffer through the next day with Eve insistent on keeping a Band-Aid on an area every parent knows a Band-Aid can't survive. Stupidly, I ate more chile, with its funny nuts and beans.
Then we started drinking. Chris hung with us for a while, as did Debra and Nancy. After Chris and Debra left it was just Nancy, Joanna and I. Nancy's eyes were very red.
Mark Cotton and Ross Jackson went of with Emilia and some of Marks kids to camp. Mark froze his butt off from 3:00am and woke up haggard. But not too haggard to begin my day from hell by spontaneously deciding that tai-chi was the thing for me. After about 5 minutes of low level tai-chi my legs were burning and I was now fodder for the Chris Watts hiking experience. We went to Mount Mormon and began climbing. Chris and I hiked together and Chris was very interested in things happening in Alabama these days. Chris was a very good listener, and I managed to talk myself out of breath. But I was not going to beg for a break, and being that we had some distance between us and the group, Chris called for a water break. Chris and I were joined by Anya, Elijah and George, Deb's husband. George was a pcv, but not in our group so I don't know why I should help him. But.....a large bee lighted on him, and not wanting to have a histamine, fireman rescue, I mentioned that he might like to shoo the bee off of him. He did and naturally the bee then attacked me. It would not let off me and finally I had to run up the mountain to escape it. George was really quite calm through all of this. Anyway, we continued up the mountain and made what was probably a six mile hike at high altitude in probably 100* heat.
I guess you think we called it a day then. No! That's when we went to the lava tubes. These are very steep, air-conditioned natural subway tubes. This is where Nils smashed his face. Suzanne was great, I don't hold her responsible. She told Nils that he had to hold on to three points between his hands and feet. It would have worked, but Nils got caught in a transition; his hand was firmly placed on a boulder when his legs slipped and he slingshotted himself, orangutan style onto the face of the very boulder he was anchoring himself to. Anyway, he's a trooper and things didn't scar until we got back home, so we continued with the tour. But we couldn't go all the way because we had to return for the horseback riding.
It's been a week since the reunion and my ass has still not healed. The strangest abrasion/contusion just outside the crack of my butt. It hurts to drive, and was almost a distraction driving to the Grand Canyon Saturday. We came down one little hill on the path, and I remember saying to Nancy, "well, that chafed my ass." Few times have I been more accurate.
The gang was back at the cabins preparing dinner. As Nancy said, mbuzi and ugali and sikuma wiki. It was good stuff. I ate a ton of Deb's ugali. It wasn't perfect, but it was the only ugali in town. It occurred to Joanna and I that with all the activities of the day, we may be dehydrated. We started drinking beer. Nils' nose had coagulated, so I sent him off to bed with Anya, and Joanna, Nancy and I waited for Sarah to show up.
Sarah showed up like the damn queen of Sheeba. Everyone pawing her and just so damned happy to see her. She assumed a superior air, quizzing us on what our "favorite activities had been" up til then. Nancy and Joanna gushed, but I held back. It was her who had 48 hours to make up, not me. Anyway, we drank until 2:00 and I gave Sarah 16 hours. Somewhere during this evening I had my physical phenomenon moment. I won't get into it, but some of you might want to get the story from the ladies "off-line."
We had switched the sleeping arrangements in the cabin. I had slept like a rock (in a white water rapid) the first night and now was very happy to be on the air mattress. Joanna stayed on her rollaway bed, and Nils was now sleeping with an older woman(Anya).
At this point Watts' chile kicked in. I didn't realize it til the next morning, but I had an incorrigible case of gas. Debra claims that Joanna and I found a rhythm, with the cacophony of her snoring softly answered with the gentle bleating of my rectum. I woke up Saturday morning oblivious and farting.
We got an early start for the canyon Saturday morning. I was very pleased that I had let loose with a couple of relievers and no one had reacted. I was totally benign. But I was also a human whoopee cushion.
Joanna, Anya, Amaya, Nils and I ate breakfast together at the lodge at the grand canyon. I had to keep finding reasons to excuse myself, because I was no longer able to slip these things out quietly. At one point I went to the men's room and let out an 18 second whoopee cushion noise that had the guy two urinals over from me looking at the heating equipment and wondering why it was operating on such a hot day. Speaking of hot days; did I mention it was a hundred damn degrees?
We got to the grand canyon, and I gotta say "that son a bitch is far more breathtaking than is my liking." Nancy and Joanna and Mark kind of humored in my terror. Nils did everything he could to fall into the canyon, and by the first shuttle stop I was turning his hand blue hugging his wrist. I did pretty good on the tour until we got on a bus driven by some maniac who thought it was funny to tell us we would be riding so close to the canyon that he liked to keep his eyes closed on that stretch.
But I survived every stop, and bought some souvenirs.
We took the East rim back to the lodge and were able to view some exquisitely horrifying vista's. Anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, ask Nancy. Not about the vistas, but my terror.
Made it back to the lodge just in time for dinner. Actually Joanna and I were late cause we had to check out the cowboy bar once more, but there was still plenty of mbuzi when we got there. I actually microwaved some of Deb's shitty ugali and some of the excellent sikuma wiki, and I believe there may be a market for a TV dinner.
After dinner we settled in for the slide show. I was still bothered by gastro problems and kept my distance on many occasions. Eve was kind enough later to remark, "I heard you fartin over there." Deb Hill set the record for most guys photographed at her house. Bonnie set the record for most times her photograph would be photographed at Deb's house. Everyone agreed that Lugari had some awesome sunsets. My son sustained no injuries on this night.
The gang (Conner, Nancy, Joanna, and Sarah) stayed up until two again, rehydrating and then spent a quiet night sleeping. Nancy had the cutest look on her face. Something like "this is not me, but I can't help myself." She was one of the gang.
Sunday was the typical sendoff day that we love to hate. Eve's dogs had finally acclimated to everyone but me, Nils had finally blunted every danger at the lodge, and my gas was subsiding; and it was time to go. Everyone said good bye, I made sure the Cottons were well ahead of us (they were having bad car karma) and made off on the 115* return to Phoenix.
I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be, or anything I've done in the last five years, that was more fun.