Hello, everyone. This is the Markster speaking.These are a few random pictures from our family's wonderful autumn out at the Skalla's ranch last year. (Pay particular attention to the extra-manly shot of a man with his downed bird. I remind you all again: ain't no other Foster can prove hisself as a man fit to put meat on the table for his fambly the old fashioned way ---by killin' it dead!!!)
I post these photos now to whet your appetite for the upcoming First Annual Foster Reunion.
Yes, I term it a Reunion, because I believe that with Drew's homecoming, we have entered into a new age with the Fam. We are now scattered across four states (soon to be five), there are now four grandchildren in the mix, and the opportunities for us all to be together will become fewer and fewer. With that in mind, I have a few proposals for the approaching shindig, which will begin on the evening of Sunday, July 23rd when we all arrive at the ranch around 7 pm and last through the morning of Wednesday, July 26th.
First of all, I think the majority of the time should be unstructured and carefree. Just a lot of 4 wheelin' and guitar playin'. But I do think a few planned activities would be good.
My proposals:
1) The Manliest Man Competition: each Foster boy will invent some sort of wilderness test of might and machismo, such as log chucking or woodchopping. We will then all compete in each others games and declare an overall winner. I propose that Adam and Drew be in charge of this.
2) Official Campfire Night: Every one that wants to gets to perform up to 2 of their individual songs, and then we have a program of 5 or 6 classic campfire songs, such as Rocky Mountain High or We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore. :) S'mores will be provided, of course. I propose that Jeff and Ty be in charge of this.
3) Foster Films Presents: We take a couple of hours one afternoon to make one final Foster Boy Movie, complete with a new villain in the mold of Darth Orchtch or Santa Claws. I propose that I be in charge of this, since I'm so dang good at it, along with Megan's help. We'll premiere the show that night in the cabin.
4) Official Family Council: agenda to be decided soon, but this is a must. A key item to discuss will be setting times and places for the next few years of similar reunions so that we can all begin to plan accordingly. This important meeting would naturally fall to the Big Fella, as the Patriarch of the Family, the Old Man on the Mountain, so to speak. The Sage of the San Juans. The Confucius of Colorado. The Buddha of the Bahamas. (?)
Beyond those planned events, I have a few other ideas:
1) Every family will be in charge of one meal. There will be a total of eight meals, and so that means that Mom and Dad, Mark and Elizabeth, Ty and Dana, Matt and Wendi (if they can make it), and Jeff and Angie all will have one assigned meal. Adam and Megan can be in charge of one (we all might want to skip out of that one:), and so can Drew and Kristen, if they so desire. That would leave one extra meal; maybe the Matriarch of the family wouldn't mind headin' up a second one. Mom could also be in charge of generating these assignments.
2) At every meal, the assigned family should also have a Music Playlist, a healthy helping of 5 or 6 songs to set the mood for the meal. These could be classical, new age, rock, folk, whatever your little heart desires. It's kind of like Donny Osmond once said: "Life is just what you make of it." :) The Old Man could be principally in charge of making sure this happens.
3) Lastly, each person at the reunion should bring one "coffee table book". For instance, I'm bringing a book (that I stole from Dad) called "1,000 Years, 1,000 People" that purports to list in order the 1,000 most infuential people of the preceding millenium. Quite interesting to read. Maybe you have a Dilbert collection or a National Parks Book or whatever. It would be fun to have an eclectic collection of books on the coffee table to provide some light yet illuminating reading. If Matt and Wendi can make it, then this can be their baby.
There you have it.
As I've said before, I'm an idea man. Got lots of 'em. And there's more where these come from. Please respond to this post by making a comment and letting me and the family know what you think. Pending your input, I will put together a rough outline of activities and meal assignments. Remember, all my ideas are great, so you cannot dispute them. Just remember that.
It's going to be a great weekend at the Ranch, one to remember forever!
