Some Observations

from the Hill By HH (Hub) Brown of OwegoOn this past October 16, we held our Brown Family Reunion. It fell on a Friday and several members wondered how we came up with such a date. My youngest and only surviving sister and her daughter live in Minneapolis. Her daughter Kim works at Macalister College and of course her daughter goes to school in Minneapolis as do the four daughters of our granddaughter Norine Castle. So, in all there were 10 members from Minneapolis. There were two from California, two of my youngest brother's daughters from New Mexico, the widow and daughter of my oldest brother from Florida. There is a grandson from California, a nephew from Tampa, and another from Iowa. These last three were no shows. I forgot to mention that in the state of Minnesota there were four days with no school, and this, connected with my sister's desire to see the foliage at its prettiest, set the date for our reunion.

Brother Bob's birthday falls on October 17, and that was another incentive to meet when we did. It was his 95th.

My wife Ag and I have been Grange members for about 55 years and so were able to get the Goodrich Settlement Grange Hall for our gathering. The two younger women from Minnesota had planned to meet in the Grange kitchen in the forenoon with anyone that wanted to cook and help prepare the main meal which was to be served in the evening. From noon on, there were three kinds of soups or stews to sip on. The younger men worked along with the women. Kim's husband, who is an artist from France, can put together a salad - with hearts of Romaine, real Roquefort cheese, and a high grade of olive oil - which is hard to forget.

Bob has belonged to a hunting club called the 22 Club for a long time. As a surprise, Bob's daughter-in-law invited what members and wives of the club that could make it to come to a party for Bob. There were 22. After the main meal, which included most any thing in the way of comestibles, Bob sat and opened presents, read the messages, and made comments. I remember a comment he made at a party the club held at the Maine Legion. He held three checks that totaled $90. It was his 90th birthday. He said, "I'm 90 years old and I got $90. Boy, I can't wait til I get to be 100."

The next day, there was much driving around and visiting and getting reaquainted, and then everyone had to leave and be ready to go back to school or to work Monday morning. I forgot to mention that after the meal the night before, Alexandra, my sister's granddaughter, and Norine's little girls put on some dancing skits for us.

There were at least 27 locals, a couple visitors, and then Bob's Club members. It reminded me of what old Mike Mahar of Newark Valley said when Ag introduced me to him. She said, "Grandpa, this is my friend, Mr. Brown." The old man scrutinized me rather closely and then he said, "Brown. Huh! The prisons are full of thum!"