ERICKSON REUNION

Updates on Wed. evening near the bottom of the page

The Johnson Family
Laurel's, Clare's, Grandma, Kirk's, Todd's

A week ago last Sunday I packed up "Ruby", my red Escape, and was all set to head for an overnight stay at Laurel and Greg's before heading for Cypress Park on Monday.  I turned the key and all I heard was click...click...click.  The battery was dead and I hadn't even driven my "new" car yet!  I was at the mercy of my neighbours and the second phone call brought Lionel over within a few minutes.  He hooked up his charger and before I knew it, I was on my way to Milestone.  The interior light had been left on as we were figuring out the new features of this vehicle.  Thanks again for the boost, Lionel!

Eric had asked if he could ride along with me and we were off in good time the next morning.  We also picked up Abbey in Moose Jaw as their trip had a few snags too and she didn't want to wait around while the mechanics worked on Clare's pickup.  (It was ready to go by four o'clock).  We stopped in Swift Current for lunch at DQ and filled Ruby's tank too.  Another stop in Maple Creek for a few groceries and then we were making our way to Hidden Valley campground where Mandy welcomed us to this fifth Erickson reunion.  

My branch of the family was the only one with perfect attendance as all 17 of us were there with Todd, Kristy and Nora from Norway able to join us this time.  Nora was quite the attraction!  She's not yet two but has quite the vocabulary, both in English and Norwegian! She quickly connected names with faces. 

Grandma Johnson with my eight grandchildren

The days went by all too quickly with many activities to enjoy together - golfing, mini golfing, swimming, family picture taking, bike riding, walking, playing volleyball, a pinata, face painting, making ice cream, a zip line, homemade slushes by Mandy and her Vitamix, Norsk waffle making lessons by Kristy, an evening singsong and games by Todd and Kristy and even a special slip and slide that the dads put together and enjoyed as well.  And of course, lots of visiting and great meals!  Each family had a turn at providing a meal for the whole group.  On Thursday we had a special Norwegian lunch with lefse, hardanger lefse, krumkake, sandbakkels, Norwegian heart shaped waffles with brown cheese, flatbread, open face buns, pickled herring, søt suppe, rhubarb sauce plus fruit and veggies.  We also had cream and bread for breakfast!

We were so pleased to have members of the Almer Erickson family (dad's only sibling) join us on Thursday.  It was great to see Vern's wife Madonna from Medicine Hat, and son Gary and his wife Val from Calgary.  It's good to keep in touch!

Line up for the slip and slide

Waiting to "lick the beaters".

Breakfast in Ledene's camper

Nora having fun at Rhett's pool

Megan doing face painting on Eric

Blaine with his "moustache"!

A picnic lunch
Nola, Jamie, Nora and Abbey

The other side of the picnic table -
Rhett, Ashley and Katie

I could use more reunion pictures so if family members have some to share, just email them to me (hejohnson@xplornet.ca) and I will add them to this blog post. Let me know what I've left out too!  (Thanks Kristy and thanks Laurel for sending these zipline pictures.)

Abbey and Clare climbing the ladder

Kirk and Clare taking off on the zipline

Todd and Kristy's zipline group

Eric and Carter racing on the zipline

 The only negative about the reunion, (other than it was too short!) was the absence of several members.   We missed you Alan and Judy, Jody Howell, Morris and Hans Markentin, Mark Rolfes and Merle Sanford.  I hope to see you at the next reunion in 2017 if not before!

July 23, 1966 was the day that Howard and I were married at Bethel Lutheran Church in Frontier.  That day was also Mom and Dad's 25th anniversary.  I am going out for supper this evening with friends Phyllis and Bob Hurren to mark this day and to belatedly celebrate with them the 50th anniversary of their marriage on June 14, 1964. They were at our wedding and Howard was a groomsman at theirs.  We'll meet at our favourite eating place in Estevan, Houston Pizza.

Wed. Evening update:  I met Phyllis and Bob around five and we had a very good meal and visit.  I was waiting for the waitress to bring the bill as it was to be my treat tonight.  She never came and never came so finally we got up and I walked towards the till with credit card in hand.  Our waitress met us and said our bill had been paid! I was quite puzzled about that but she told Bob who had paid it.  The fellow had stopped at our table and greeted Bob when he and two other guys came in to eat. So that was a surprise as well as a gift for me on this special day.  What a kind gesture!

My holiday blog will continue on another day with my trip to Drumheller along with Todd, Kristy, Nora, Dawson, Eric, Abbey, Carter and Lindsay.