Dudman Family Reunion

The family reunion invitation.

I was the point person for the reunion and took it upon myself to kick it off, organize it and communicate it all to the family. We decided to meet in July in the family with children could attend and those that worked full time could take time off.

I started the search of hotels by utilizing the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau. They were very helpful and acted as a liaison between the hotels and myself. After deliberation I selected the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa. The hotel was just 20 minutes from Downtown Rochester and served us well. My sales contact was very helpful and got us taken care of.

Growing up I seemed to be the baby of all the first cousins. My cousin Teena has cerebral palsy. This was something I was never aware of with her. To me she was and is simply my cousin Teena. She however had to struggle through life proving her intelligence and gifts and people would pigeonhole her and not be supportive. She went on to become a wife and mother and more. She is a terrific public speaker and her presentation is "Junk in my Trunk." Talk about fortunate! We happened to be in Rochester over the exact same dates as one of her presentations. We attended it and she brought the family to tears. She was also gracious enough to allow us to have the picnic portion of the reunion at her home.

A group of us met informally for dinner on Thursday night. Dave flew from San Antonio to Buffalo on Southwest Airlines and arrived in enough time to join for dinner and attend the reunion.

Unfortunately on the picnic day it rained cats and dogs. It was so humid. The kids didn't mind and were able to play in Teena's swimming pool but it was hard on the adults.

I hired a local photographer; Laurie Berg Webb. She lives in Greece which is the town I grew up in before moving to New Hartford. Laurie can be contacted at lwebbshots@yahoo.com. She attended the family picnic day and took some great shots.

Saturday afternoon was dedicated to time on own. Some chose to golf, take in spa or shop.  My two sisters and I as well as my brother-in-law and Dave drove into Rochester to meet up with our cousins from our Mother's side of the family.  We haven't seen the two of them in years and we all met for a bite to eat and Don & Bob's; now referred to simply as Don's Original. All of us used to go there as kids and it has an affinity in our hearts.

Famous hotsauce!

The three sisters with the two cousins we haven't seen in forever!

Saturday evening we had and intimate dinner with remaining family members at Richardson's Canal House. I am so glad we chose them. The service was impeccable and the food delicious. Again; it rained like cats and dogs that evening and we originally were going to be outside overlooking the Erie Canal. Nonetheless we enjoyed ourselves and had a lovely evening.

Sunday turned picture-perfect weather; Murphy's Law. We enjoyed an afternoon touring the Erie Canal. We rode the Colonial Belle. The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about 363 miles (584 km) from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. First proposed in 1807, it was under construction from 1817 to 1825 and officially opened on October 26, 1825.

It was the first transportation system between the eastern seaboard (New York City) and the western interior (Great Lakes) of the United States that did not require portage, was faster than carts pulled by draft animals, and cut transport costs by about 95%. The canal fostered a population surge in western New York state, opened regions farther west to settlement, and helped New York City become the chief U.S. port. It was enlarged between 1834 and 1862. In 1918, the enlarged canal was replaced by the larger New York State Barge Canal.

Today, it is part of the New York State Canal System. In 2000, the United States Congress designated the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to recognize the national significance of the canal system as the most successful and influential human-built waterway and one of the most important works of civil engineering and construction in North America.

Afterward we enjoyed a light bite to eat at Mulconry's Irish Pub and Restaurant. Dave and I flew back to San Antonio on Monday afternoon.

Official reunion photos to be posted soon!

Thanks for following along.

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