Updated: 07/21/2009 11:22 AM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Art Barron

BARRON: Going to the Significant Other's Family Reunion

I think I could write a movie script entitled "Family Reunion"

It would have to be a romantic comedy, think of all of the characters involved. First, you'd have to think of a location. Hmmm. Well, how about a beautiful area in the midwest perhaps some rolling hills and lush greenery all around.

The weather would be pleasant, people would be embracing, laughing, and sampling food. Yes a lot of food.

The characters in this movie are people from around the country and from all socio economic backgrounds.

Best part of all, it's the family reunion of your significant other. Whoa!!! put on the brakes. Actually, while some might shy away from meeting dozens of cousins, uncles and aunts for the first time, it was "green light" across the board! A splendid time indeed.

That's what I did over the weekend. It was perfect. I felt right at home, accepted, and curious to get to know the extended family of my significant other.

It was about a half hour's drive northeast of Wausau, Wisconsin at a place called Dells of the Eau Claire Park. About fifty people enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

It is a yearly pilgrimage. I missed my own reunion back in the 1980's because I was working in another part of the country. But this one was a lot of fun. I went with Tracy and the sounds of an accordion filled the air. A polka theme.

Your heart skips a beat when you're meeting the significant other's father for the first time and the older sister...but the extended family? It turned out to be such a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. We closed the whole thing down.

I was introduced as "the friend" funny, because everytime she introduced me as "friend" everyone smiled.