A quick trip home just before the reunion

In the course of my lifetime I have NEVER attended any family reunions. The only time my family seems to gather is over a wedding or funeral. So with that said I took it upon myself to organize an official reunion and chose to do so in July. I figured it was the best time of year to get family with children together and for the most part; a large portion of my family remains in the Northeast.

As stated in the earlier post; I was in Baltimore attending a conference. Post conference I flew to Albany and my sister Sherri picked me up. I spent a few nights with her. Funny story. As I was preparing to leave Baltimore to Albany I sat in a chair next to my departing gate. This woman sat across from me and we discussed where we each were going. I told her my destination was Utica (New Hartford actually) and she said that she too was going to Utica. We sat for a moment and looked at one another and I said, "You're Janice Sherline! She said to me, "You're Sherri's sister Amy! I don't know how I managed to garner it was she but I am friends with Janice's sister Debra on Facebook and for some reason I put it all together. Janice and Debra are COUSINS to MY cousin Laurie who lives in Rochester. Talk about your small world!

Here are Janice and I at the airport.

It was nice being back in New Hartford. Not only did I get to spend some quality time with my sister but I also got to see a very dear friend of mine. We've know each other since we were 10 years old! She has three beautiful children and she managed to juggle all three and make time for me and join us for lunch.

Here's my friend Rosella and her beautiful brood.

All of us!

I was also fortunate enough to reconnect with a college friend too. He and I found one another again through Facebook. His parents still live in New Hartford. It was truly coincidental that he contacted me while I was back in New Hartford. He was moving from VT back to NY and just so happened to be in town over the very same dates. Sherri picked up her grandsons and all of us had dinner in the Town of New Hartford. Another high school pal of mine works there so we wrangled a table in her section and got to visit with her as well!

A New Hartford staple; Chicken Riggies!

Chicken Riggies or Utica Riggies is an Italian-American pasta dish native to the Utica-Rome area of New York State. It is a pasta-based dish usually consisting of chicken, rigatoni and hot or sweet peppers in a spicy cream and tomato sauce, although many variations exist.

A dessert item I miss dearly are half-moons. Sherri and I took the boys to Holland Farms where we sat and enjoyed some decadence. I ordered two dozen to have shipped back to San Antonio.

Here are the boys having fun under the cow heads.

Signage at Holland Farms.

Sherri and piled the boys and goodies for the reunion into her car on Thursday and drove to Rochester. Super Dave joined us on Friday afternoon as he had to work that week.

Next post; the reunion!

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