THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING annually as an extended family remains a high priority for the descendants of Tom and Betty Helbling. This past weekend 52 of us from four states gathered at a central Minnesota lake home. We laughed. We talked. We shared memories and made new ones. We played. We ate together under two screened tents, some people spilling to tables outside. And it was wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
I was determined, even with my ongoing health challenges, to make the 3.5-hour trip so I could be with Randy’s family—the sisters, the brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Some were missing, like the brothers from Michigan, North Dakota and Missouri and their spouses, a niece and nephews, and two of my adult children living in southeastern Wisconsin and Boston. It’s a given that not everyone can make it every year to the mid-August gathering.
BEYOND CONVERSATIONS
But for those of us who can attend, it’s always a good time. We do more than simply visit, although that’s certainly important. We also engage in activities that get us up and moving and interacting. There’s the annual corn hole tournament and BINGO for all ages. Even the adults participate, coveting jars of homemade salsa, jams, jellies and honey from the farm. Randy brought home his sister Cheryl’s cherry jelly. Kids delight in winning sidewalk chalk, markers, craft kits and more. No kid leaves without a prize. Most adults don’t either.
The younger kids, nearly 20 strong, packed so much into the reunion days. Swimming. Playing on the beach. Fishing from the dock. Riding bikes around the circle drive. Five-year-old cousins Autumn and Amaris even performed on a pedal-less tricycle of sorts, attempting three spins before a wildly cheering audience.
WATER-BASED FUN
Boat rides given by my niece Lindsey’s husband, Brent, proved wildly popular with the kids. The young father of three with a fourth due in November was busy, and likely worn out, from all those trips across and around the lake. My granddaughter Isabelle, 7, declared the boat rides “awesome.” Why? “We went really fast,” she explained. Ah, yes, speed. All kids were accounted for when the boat docked.
The water theme continued on land with a water balloon fight in the afternoon. Izzy hesitated, until I suggested she join the younger kids and avoid the older boys who threw with determined force. Eventually adults were caught in the crossfire, even hostess Rosie who had gone to a balcony to photograph the chaos below. And then Katie targeted her cousin Jonathan, who ended up with a bucket of water dumped over his head, just as he handed off his cellphone. What memories…
PHOTOS AND STORIES
Randy’s oldest sister, Annette, put together a photo board. My great nieces Katherine and Sierra studied the images, trying to determine identities. “I can’t believe that’s my mom,” Katherine said of a baby photo of her mom, Jocelyn. Likewise Sierra struggled to believe a long-haired young woman was her grandma, Cheryl. Even I, and I almost hate to admit this, didn’t recognize my own daughter initially. I looked at a photo of a toddler and thought, “she looks familiar.” Well, of course, my brain reacted in a delayed response, “that’s your daughter Miranda.”
I also learned something about Miranda after paging through journal entries from an annual Helbling aunts and cousins get together that spanned from 1996-2008. Miranda penned a note about alternative casino plans with cousins Lindsey and Katie with one adding a postscript about going clubbing. What fun those teens must have had writing that message. I laughed, then photographed the note to text to Miranda in Wisconsin.
HONORING BETTY
This is all the stuff of memories. This journal kept through the years. The treasured family photos. The conversations and family updates shared after lunch. The games and boat rides and water balloon fight and BINGO and free play. And then the jigsaw puzzle exchange, honoring matriarch Betty, lover of jigsaw puzzles and gone nearly 30 years already (way too soon at age 59). I love the Helbling family, which I’ve been part of for 41 years now. I cherish their love and support. And I cherish our time together at the annual family reunion.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
HEART the Loon Floatie – OMG that is so CUTE! There is nothing better than photos and doing a who is it. We finally had extended family come for a visit this year (8 years in the making – have not figured out we have a little slice of paradise here). It was a nice change of pace. I enjoy going back to see family, however; it can be quite the whirlwind when just there a few days for a Wedding (enough hoopla with a Wedding as is). Love you sharing your family and its roots as well as its wings 🙂 Happy Day – Enjoy
What fun to host your family for a change. Now that they’ve discovered your paradise, they may be more frequent visitors.
We all loved the loon floatie!
First of all, I am soooo happy to read that you were able to attend. This is an amazing get together of memories, joys , connections and fun. Something remembered for many years to come from all who were there and in memory of those who were not.❤️❤️
Thank you for recognizing how much it meant to me to be able to attend. I don’t plan much ahead these days, never knowing how I will feel. My physical therapist gave me some coping tools, which I used when my brain felt overwhelmed by sensory input.
It was a wonderful reunion! Chaotic but fun!! Each year our time together becomes more important. And I so enjoy watching the children get to know one another and playing together. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with every aspect of your comment. This was one memorable and fun reunion and I love seeing the little people getting to know one another, too. The next generation continues the tradition.
What fun!! I will be planning a family reunion soon and look forward to using some of the ideas I read here. Wonderful memories ❤️
Enjoy planning your family reunion. And use these ideas all you want.
Love the loon and love that we have a loon center nearby! Glad you were able to attend this event. Family reunions are such a blessing for children (and adults) to see how many people are available to love them, help them, guide them, and be examples for them in life. ❤️
You summarize well the importance of family reunions. Yes, I look forward to the loon center opening in a few years.
What a wonderful tradition. I’m so glad you were able to attend it.
We were up north at the same time, enjoying our family and watching the cousins play together. So fun!
Yes, I was happy I could manage my symptoms well enough to make the long drive and then be at the reunion. So thankful you had that time together as a family.
Sounds like a wonderful time.
Oh, gosh, Paula, it was fun to have this time with extended family. I was so thankful I could manage the drive and being among a lot of people. I took breaks as needed and used my coping tools to handle the drive.
Sounds just delightful. My family never had such get togethers and I often thought it might have been a cool experience even if it only happened once.
My extended family on all sides has had annual reunions in forever. I grew up surrounded by cousins and aunts and uncles on my dad’s side. It was wonderful. Families are so scattered now and this is one way we can connect other than at funerals.
I love this tradition and am so happy that you were able to go once again. I am sure it was not without its challenges but I also am sure that it was worth every bit of discomfort you might have had to deal with. Memories made for a lifetime.
It was absolutely worth the challenges. My physical therapist helped me develop ways to cope when I felt overwhelmed. I had an absolutely wonderful time with the Helblings.