A random memory

The annual reunion of my mother's family is coming up next weekend. As far as these things go, it's usually a good time, watching the people who harbor deep-seated grudges against each other for 364 days a year put it aside for a couple of hours to have some chicken and potato salad.

Deb and I planned our wedding for the reunion weekend of 2004. We originally thought of doing it at the reunion itself, which was on a Saturday, but then we figured we'd surprise my mother and do it the day no one would have expected -- the day after. So on Saturday we just relaxed and had the aforementioned potato salad and chicken.

At one point, guitars were grabbed and singing commenced. That was a cue Deb could never resist.

She didn't know the words to too many of the country songs the guitar players knew, but she promised to learn some before the next reunion.

The next two years, she was too sick to go. This will be the first one I go to without her.