Lake Lure Reunion
Eight Smiths, four Eidsons and two Collinses gathered at Jay and Maxann’s house on Lake Lure NC for a reunion from June 30-July 8. Shelby. Sean and Stephen Eidson arrived on Friday in order to pick up Thomas from a nearby Boy Scout Camp. Steve and I met Lilli and Violet at the Charlotte Airport on Saturday and drove together to Lake Lure in time for a wonderful dinner with the Eidsons. David, Leslie, Margot and Nina arrived from Coral Gables on Monday, and Jay and Maxann came from Charlotte for the 4th of July. In ideal weather, we appreciated the beauty of nature (click here for more pictures) and the joy of being together.
It was a real vacation for Steve and me–our children and their spouses did all the menu planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning up the whole week! They wanted to celebrate Steve’s 80th birthday prior to August 22, when we’ll be in Scotland. How wonderful it was NOT to be in charge, only to lie back and take pride. From omelets for breakfast to a magnificent paella, Chef Sean was at his best. Leslie, Shelby, David and Lilli kept everyone happy with fajitas, pasta, snacks and favorite drinks. Jay not only turned us loose in his wine cellar; he also chopped wood for the fire!.
Lilli led Shelby and me on a hike in Buffalo Creek Park Sunday and returned with others later in the week. The grandkids loved swimming and boating on the lake, where no outboard motors were allowed. Nina learned to steer the paddle board; Shelby and David liked the kayak. Lilli swam back and forth across the lake several times each day. What joy!
When the kids weren’t playing in the lake, Lilli had active games ready for them, such as a blind tasting test and a “Minute-to-Win-It” game of stacking plastic cups. Other times we relaxed indoors–reading, chatting, playing games, or working puzzles.
Instead of fireworks on the Fourth, Lilli, David and Shelby presented Steve with a cake and five new verses to the Haiku poem they wrote for his 75th birthday.
Maxann and Jay were with us but one day, but in this gorgeous living room we watched movies every night, including Cast Away and Apollo 13, both written by my Rice classmate William Broyles, Jr. Another, WHAM!, introduced me to George Michael. How had I missed him?
Catching up with all the family was great, but what about my continuing quests for Music, Art and Reading, like the headings of this blog? Fortunately, David always played interesting Music on his Sonos speaker. Shelby brought me a fascinating book to Read, The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng, set in Singapore, where Maxann and Jay once lived.
For Art, we got acquainted with all the lovely treasures Maxann had curated for this house. Here are close-ups of two pieces of art in the living room where we watched movies. I was with Maxann in 2014, when she found that light fixture in a store in Delray Beach and, just as she knew it would, it fits perfectly in that space. I don’t know the story of the painting, but I like it. More treasures like this are shown in this album.
THANK YOU, Jay and Maxann, for providing the house which you share with Corby and Bailee’s families. THANK YOU, Lilli, David, and Shelby, for planning and carrying out a terrific family reunion. So proud! So happy! THANK YOU again and again. Love, Mom/Andma/Martha❤️
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