Memories of Summer Visits with Grandma

As I listened to the rumble of thunder on a steamy August night last night I was transported back to my childhood and a similar night when I spent the evening with Grandma and cousin Jon sitting on her front porch on Maddalein eating fudgesicles and hearing stories about our father's childhoods and Grandpa. "We can sit out here until it starts to rain" Grandma said as we enjoyed the breeze that proceeded the oncoming storm. Ginger was inside, occasionally coming to the door to see that all was well. I can still hear Grandma's laughter as she told us of the fire in the basement of her old house and how all the neighborhood kids were most concerned with the safety of the pool table. Earlier in the day we had played cards and bingo for pennies in the coolness of the basement while we ate Bugles and drank Faygo. Talk was about our trip on the bus to Eastland earlier that day and the feast she was preparing for dinner. Grandma rarely parked us in front of the television. In fact, she kept us quite busy. And our stomach quite full!

I am very thankful that Grandma fed us such wonderful memories that we could pack away and take out long after she has gone to remember her and remind us of a simpler time in our lives. Her spirit lives on and she can still manage to touch us with her Grandmotherly love.

THANK YOU!

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. Reunion 2010 is already in the planning stage. The kick-off mass will become a regular addition to our reunion as it was such a nice way to start the day. Special Thanks to Dave and Debbie for making it so personal. Thanks to Judy for securing the park. And thanks to everyone who helped clean up. And thanks to Vicky, who wowed us with the awesome banner and the very challenging games!

Please keep checking with this blog as I will give regular updates to family news, share more old photo's and give updates to the planning of our next reunion.

If you don't see your name on the monthly birthday column, please let me know as my list is based on one we compiled a couple of years back. And let me know about the birthdays of the new little family members.

Right now I am going to put my feet up and rest with the fond memories of Warren Family Reunion 2009.

-Joe

It's Here!

I hope to see as many of you as can make it at mass this morning. If not, I will see you at the reunion! Don't forget your camera's. Let's make this a memorable day for all generations.

Pre-Reunion Celebration

I think I may have started a new tradition of my own. As the weather forecast for Sunday is still shaky, I am now confidant we will have a very nice reunion.

Today I paid a visit to the graves of the Szewczyk's. My first visit there. The Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery on 6 mile and Mound is surprisingly well kept. In fact, if you go there you will meet the grounds keeper who is very helpful and friendly. I discovered a stone of the Kregier's, who would be Louise's(Ludwika Kregier-Szewczyk) Brother and Sister-in-law. Her name was Wiktorya, so Vicky has another namesake. Her husband's name was Michal and his picture looks a lot like his other Great-great nephew, Kevin Kwatera. After checking out those stones I found yet another stone, that of the Tyranski's. This family stone was of Louise Kregier-Szewczyk's sister and her family. This would be Uncle Ed's parents. What a history lesson!

I planted a 'Live Forever Seedem' on the graves of my ancestors. It is the plant of choice at the Sacred Heart cemetery as they live forever. I also planted some by the Wawrzyniak's, Grandma and Grandpa Warren and my Mother at Mt. Olivet. The Warren family stone always has had them growing there. A nice symbol of eternal life!

This was such a special experience. I plan to to this more often. Especially right before every reunion. If you would like maps, directions or a tour, just let me know.

I am all ready for Sunday's reunion. I hope to share many memories and moments with you all. See you there!
Joe

Directions to the Park

For those of you who couldn't find the link to the Evite on the right side of this blog. Or the map link on the Evite. Or the location of the park on the right side of this blog to do a mapquest search. Or you can't seem to get the link to work on your computer. Here is another way to find the park. Just copy and paste.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=New+Baltimore&state=MI&address=Huntley+Ave+%26+24+Mile+Rd&zipcode=48047&country=US&latitude=42.6906&longitude=-82.75842&geocode=INTERSECTION#a/maps/m::11:42.692877:-82.761664:0:::::1:1:1::/e

The map to the church is in it's link, but it is now also here.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=New+Baltimore&state=MI&address=50931+Maria+St&zipcode=48047-2148&country=US&latitude=42.67843&longitude=-82.735347&geocode=ADDRESS#a/maps/m::11:42.680385:-82.747356:0:::::1:1:1::/e

From the Church you can follow to the park. My cell phone will be on if you get lost. The number is on the Evite link.

Grills

No, not the one's on your teeth, the one's you grill your lunch on. The park does NOT have permanent grills, so if you want to barbecue, bring your portable grill. Or your George Foreman grill, as there are power sources in the pavilion.

I hope to see more people responding to the evite so I can get an idea who's coming. Make a note of family members not on the email list too!

Meeting of the Executive Committee

Last night the Warren Family Reunion Executive Committee met to finalize plans for the 2009 Reunion. Present were Reunion Czarina; Victoria Graves, President of the Reunion Committee; Jessica Catalano and myself, Joseph Warren-CEO. All reunion plans were finalized and approved. The meeting was then moved to Arnie Beller's private club at the 2009 American-Polish festival for the purpose of experiencing our cultural heritage. A motion to introduce alcoholic beverages to the meeting was approved overwhelmingly. After a fervent open meeting with various junior members of the committee, Mrs. Graves and myself issued a joint resolution to recognize our hard work over the years and presented ourselves with congratulatory cherry bombs. We also recognized the origin of our mission being the time Grandma Warren pulled us aside to tell us we were her favorites and that she counted on us to keep the tradition of Warren family gatherings alive. Another Cherry Bomb round was introduced in a toast to Helen Warren and what she may have said to us. The rest of the minutes of the meeting are missing because someone spilled beer on them and rather than try to clean up the mess we just ordered another pitcher and headed for the dance floor. The meeting was adjourned...although we are not quite sure when that was.
Did I mention that Judy acquired a park permit that allows beer and wine consumption at the picnic? Any thing else that might turn up in your Thermos is your business. Two weeks until the reunion! Make sure your whole family knows about it.
-Joe