A great family visit

Last month, I invited my brothers and their wives out for a visit at my campground, and today was the day that was chosen.  I’m so glad I did that.  It turned out to be a great day of visiting and reminiscing.    It took each of them two to three hours to get here, but I’m glad they made the effort.  Robyn, and the grandgirls, were also able to come over for a few hours before they had to leave so Robyn could do a life vest appointment, so they missed the cookout.

This is my younger brother, Kurt.  His wife, Jody, was unable to attend as she was on call for duty as a neo-natal intensive care nurse at her hospital.  I’m sorry she wasn’t able to make it.

This is my older brother, Carl, and his wife, Denise.  They are very recent first time grandparents to Blake.  Carl is a volunteer at the annual Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin, so our gathering was delayed until that was over with.

The weather cooperated for the most part until we got the food cooked over the fire.  Then all the pesky little flies and gnats moved in since there was no breeze about to blow them away.  We talked and talked and talked, until the humidity and bugs drove us into the motorhome for a while. 

Carl had brought along a thumb drive with pictures of their new grandson and some old family pictures.

I had to show you this picture of my grandfather (hidden behind the windshield).  He was the chauffeur in 1934 for Franklin D. Roosevelt during a 1934 President’s Day parade in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  You can see FDR waving his hat in the back seat.  Get a load of the lady’s dresses, and how all the men wore hats and ties.  It was certainly a different time back then.  The Secret Service men are obvious, but the President is out in the open air and not under a bulletproof bubble.  My grandfather, Oscar Hahlbohm, worked for the Pierce Arrow motor company at the time, and got the honor of being the chauffeur.  I remember hearing from my mother how the whole family was investigated at that time before he was approved to do this.

I really enjoyed seeing all the old photos again, and Carl has agreed to put them all on a thumb drive for me.  When I was in college, I compiled a photo album with all of these old pictures, but in later years my mother disassembled the album and various pictures were given to my brothers.  I no longer have any of them.  It was a great trip back in time for me today.  Carl has also agreed to take my slides from my trip to Alaska and scan them onto the same thumb drive.  I’m a happy camper tonight!

I leave you tonight with the three Chicago kids.  I just don’t understand why we all have white hair and wear glasses!  What’s up with that??

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy