Tag: reunion

A Reunion Reborn!
Colorado · family · Friends · My Thoughts

A Reunion Reborn!

Featured Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments
Football game at the Branson-Trinchera Reunion
Football games and
Ice cream and dessert social at the Branson-Trinchera Reunion
Ice cream and delicious desserts!

Last week on Saturday, August 27, 2022, the Branson-Trinchera Reunion saw a rebirth after being canceled for two years because of the pandemic. The creative committee came up with a different format, which attracted younger alumni.

So, this is how the day looked! The celebration started off at Branson’s new amazing football field with two games—first the junior high and then the high school. Many alumni circled the football field to cheer on both teams. We didn’t have football when I was in school. In fact, the football field is where the baseball field used to be!

The senior class manned the concession stand and provided needed refreshments on a hot day. What fun I had talking to old friends in the cafeteria—hugs galore!

After the two school games, there was an alumni flag football game. Several recent graduates stood in front of me and my car during the game, eager to get back on the field. As the high school game drew closer and closer to its finish, they put on their cleats and stretched muscles, ready to get on the field once more. During this game, the festivities began in the gym with an ice cream and dessert social. The committee provided the ice cream; the alumni brought the delicious desserts.

Keeping with tradition, the committee displayed Tom Cummins’ amazing historical photo collection and land plats. Many alumni with their families strolled by the photos, and I heard exclamations and shouts when someone recognized a relative.

The atmosphere of lifelong friendships and storytelling filled the air. What a pleasant experience! We only had a few “ole timers,” but people clustered around them to show their love and respect. The sad truth—we don’t have many “ole timers” left!

Kaylinn Gilstrap, a professional photographer, added an art show to the festivities, with its opening reception on August 13, 2022 from 3:00—6:00 PM and its closing reception coinciding with the reunion from 5:00—7:00 PM. This art show added quite an artistic flair to the traditional reunion. Many people ventured up to the old County Garage building to view the amazing artwork from many local artists and alumni.

I served on this committee for about twenty-five years, and we had seen a major decline in attendance. The “ole timers” were passing away. Many alumni from the 60s, 70s and 80s, for whatever reason, chose not to attend the reunion, and I don’t understand why. I love the fact that we had it this year—maybe different, but we had it.

When I first saw the flyer announcing a change of date and format, I have to admit I was skeptical. I couldn’t see how our elderly alumni could attend the football games, then stay for the social time with ice cream and desserts. I thought it would be too long! It worked!

Finally, it wasn’t the old format, but is that so bad? This innovative committee worked hard to provide the event we all love—a time to get together with family and friends. You can’t beat that.   

And now looking towards 2023 and the future. Next year we will celebrate 100 years for the Branson school. What a time to celebrate! (The black-and-white picture is the original Branson School!)

~WATCH MY NEW INTERVIEW on Douglas Coleman’s show dated August 5, 2022.

~MY FIRST AUDIOBOOK IS AVAILABLE: Go to Audible to buy my first audiobook, Let Me Tell You a Story. I’m working on Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? but have gotten stalled with shingles.

~Do you listen to podcasts? Here are three podcasts with interviews about my new book & some Flippo stories:

Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo meme. Reunion
Grab a last drink on the beach with Flippo & enjoy!

~Have you bought a copy of Flippo’s biography yet? Believe it or not—it’s been two years. Go here for your hardback or paperback: https://www.laradasbooks.com or at Amazon.

~For me, it’s Christmas all year long! Here’s a variety of Christmas greetings from Flippo & Neeca, featuring his song, “When It’s Christmas Time in Texas”: https://youtu.be/mpJCUGffU3A

~Wish You Were Here: A Novel by Jodi Picoult, one of my favorite authors, deals with the COVID pandemic in fiction as opposed to my nonfiction book. Check it out! Interesting story!

Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better meme. Reunion
Read, reflect and respond!

~I’m not afraid of tough subjects like the coronavirus. Yes, I get people are tired of hearing about it, but. . . Visit my website to find out about my new book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? and my other five books and three cookbooks: https://laradasbooks.com

Why Is It Hard to Resign?
Launching a book · My Thoughts

Why Is It Hard to Resign?

Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments

close up condiment container cooking
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

I am a workaholic, and I have been given the opportunity as of late to resign from and cut back from a couple time-consuming commitments. In all reality, I think this is a God thing, doing for me what I could not do for myself. Being busy has been my mantra for years. I’ve told my recovery friends for years that this issue HAD to be dealt with and finally it has come crashing to the surface!

I have been on the Branson-Trinchera Reunion Committee for 26 years for the school in my hometown, Branson, CO, and I resigned today. Why is that so hard? I have loved this activity and enjoyed the work I’ve done. I think I felt connected with my Dad after he died by keeping the reunion going. I worked hard over the years doing a variety of the jobs that were needed each year to make the event successful. I didn’t resign from the reunion committee because I was mad or upset–I just knew it was time.

I’m moving out of a leadership role in our square dance community in Albuquerque, NM and that’s hard, too. I want to keep my finger in the pot and have my ideas considered, but when you are not the one in control, you have no voice about what happens, and I have to accept that.

So the life’s lesson for me today is one that is pretty simple–change is the only constant! Yes, I will stay involved in both the reunion and the square dance community, but I will be a quiet observer now, not a mover and shaker! And that’s OK! There’s a new mover and shaker waiting in the wings to take over.