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Well, I'm finally getting around to posting the reunion photos. I kept waiting for someone else to go first, and then upon looking, I noted that almost everyone else had already, "gone first."

From left to right: Wyatt Ramsay, Ethan Hatch, Rachael Hatch, Kylie Ramsay, Lauren Ellis, Piper Herring, Abbie Ramsay, Kyle Hatch, and KD Zumwalt. The 2009 copy of the Sessal Dellma and Charlotte Ballard Allen family reunion is now history. These are the grandkids (minus Brie) that attended the reunion. It is difficult to get that many people (particularly the diminutive of the species) to hold still long enough to point a camera in their general direction. Setting them on a shelf where "fear of falling" put a damper on their natural energy was a fairly good idea (but only because none of them fell...).

I continue to be surprise at the number of people who make it to these gatherings.

We threw a few horseshoes. The reunion is the only time I play that game, and my lack of practice is glaringly obvious.

Most of the attendees seemed to enjoy themselves.

It is not obvious to me what keeps people coming back to this gathering.

I think this marshmallow gun was Mark's contribution. It is not obvious to me why you need two right angle turns in the projectile pathway, but it seems to work. Perhaps it creates just enough resistance to allow the pressure to build.

There once was a philosopher who challenged his students to come up with a greeting that was at all time both true and appropriate. After many discussions, they settled on, "Well, here we are..." Well, here we are...

I am a physical scientist. I'm not sure whether that training has shaped my world view into what it is, or whether my world view influenced my choice of study. In either case, I am woefully inept in social skills and interactions. But that doesn't mean I am unaware of them. At gathering like this, one of my favorite pass times is to note the nuances of related people interacting. The significance of conclusion one might draw based on these observations escapes me, but the interactions themselves can be entertaining.

Some images are expressive enough that they don't require written commentary. Examine the expressions of both parties and see you think this one qualifies?

I can't remember that far back (and I suspect very few [if any] can) but I wonder what someone this age makes of a gathering like this. Is it something to be enjoyed, or simply endured? Or are they even cognizant that it differs from their everyday existence?

And that brings up a deeper question. Why do people enjoy interacting with others? Those interactions are the source of almost all conflict. There must be rewards, but I am at a loss to quantify them. Perhaps if we knew the correct units... Two milli-interacts is the minimum necessary in a 24 hour period, sixteen milli-interacts is pleasurable, and more than 123 milli-interacts starts to be painful... Of course, this ignores the content and context of these milli-interacts... It is obvious why some claim that social science is not really a science.

This image and the next may demonstrate a fundamental difference between the male and female of the species. Note that Ethan is comfortable placing his foot two inches from the edge of this circa four foot drop off, and then bringing his center of mass almost even with that foot.

Kylie, on the other hand, is content to stop about a foot from the edge, and then keeps her center of mass even further back. Even at a young age, males take more risks than females. The wonder is that enough of them survive to insure the perpetration of the species... Do you believe in guardian angels?

Wyatt, the younger, seems to end up with cars, trucks, and similar machinery no matter where he goes. I wonder if I have a similar strong interest that isn't obvious to me...

I have absolutely no idea what to make of this image (other than the fact that it is slightly out of focus). Any thoughts?

I think this is another of those expressive images that doesn't require comment.

Mark is almost as opinionated as I am. Maybe that is why I enjoy discussing things with him. But, just for the record, when we disagree I'm right and he is wrong...

I'm looking forward to working of the edifice the Herrings are constructing. My only misgiving is finding it. Maybe if I had an aircraft...

There were a number of crafts and games for the younger generation, which were well received. I have difficulty relating to the activities that appear to that age group. I regret that fact, but the necessary circuitry is simple missing from by neural pathways.

Lindella (oldest child of Nella Hatch) and Jared Frenzel attended and brought their music talents. As I understand it, they are becoming quite the celebrities at hoe downs in the Lake Stevens Washington area. (And, by the way, they are quite good.)

I haven't the foggiest idea where Sabrina acquired this awful device. It is basically a plastic mesh bag, into which she places a banana, and then lets her infant suck it through the mesh. It looks absolutely revolting, but Brie loves it. I'll bet Brie will entertain different fells about it when she gets to be my age.

There were lots and lots of cousins present. Someday, I make take the time to calculate the number of existing first cousins, then first cousins once removed, etc. in Grandpa's family. But probably not today...

So, read her expression and tell me what she is thinking...

Is this expression any easier to read?

And how about this expression?

And, finally this one.

When we reach "adulthood" (what ever that is) do we put on masks to conceal our thoughts? Or do our thoughts become too complex to be reflected in a facial expression?

Another possibility is that adults like children (I think that statement is generally true) because of the expressiveness that children allow in their faces (or perhaps that coupled with a lack of guile...).

It is getting to where my hat is like the old American Express Card commercials--I don't leave home without it. It his instance I forgot it, but a quick (and I use that term loosely) stop at Wal_mart allowed me to acquire another. AJ must have been jealous, as he kept trying to steal it.

It is nice to see everyone and play, but it is also nice to be comforted by Dad...

It is nice to play, but it is also nice to find mom...

Nathen et. al. headed back east on Sunday. Their vehicle was packed to the ceiling, and, in truth, I didn't envy them in the least. Their trip (9 or 10 days, depending on how you count it) included two family reunions and work on the multiple house repair items the real estate company said they needed. I suspect it was very tiring, but I was glad to see them...

I have been riding during my enforced lunch break most days, and I continue to be amazed what things you find along the roadway (presumably blown from vehicles [mostly trucks, I think {a not too subtle hint to those of you who lack tie-downs}]). Occasionally I pick up an item or two, and this odd habit finally paid off. I took two bags that held folding chairs, and (after removing the stitching) designed a stuff sack for my sleeping bag. Barbara rescued my feeble sewing efforts, and the finished project should (with any luck) last the remainder of my lifetime.

The other day, I received a call from someone in the Stake saying that they had been informed that I was an expert dutch oven cook. That information was certainly off the mark, and if I could think on my feet, I would have referred them to the other Alan Hatch in the Stake. As it was, I drove to the camp on Mt Lemon, helped (circa) 50 young ladies cook a cake (closer to cupcake) in an orange peel, and then demonstrated my questionable dutch oven skills.

AJ volunteered to help (and he actually was a great help). Next year, maybe I'll let him do the teaching and I will do the helping...

As a footnote, these are the brake pads I removed from my bicycle when I returned home from the Alpine to Clifton ride a couple of weeks ago. Near the end of the ride, the bicycle didn't seem to stop very well, and I wondered why.  Now I know...

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