Summer of Reunions

A Bruce Reunion, the first in many years, was announced over a year ago, and the time finally arrived! Our branch of the family Bruce is descended from a James Bruce who came from Midlothian, Scotland as a two-year old, settling with his family in Culpepper County, Virginia in the mid-1700s. We have since spread out to both coasts with the majority of the family living in the middle US states: Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas mainly. For this reunion folks came from Oregon and Louisiana as well.
We met on Friday evening at the motel for gab and get-acquainted time around the pool,

but we officially opened in the morning with prayer.

Here my Aunt Debbie takes a little break.

Food and talk, much of it about our genealogy and heritage, made up most of it. Some O'Neals, and others from parallel family lines, came from Arkansas.

Her Granddaughter Kelsee, who leads the Choctaw, OK High School Cheerleading Team.

Cousins and more cousins!

My cousin Mike.
My uncle Bill with Marianne

More cousins: Cory, Deena and Sheena

Marianne took pictures; she's the official photographer for the Oklahoma State athletic department.

Three of my father's siblings: my uncles Bill and Dale and aunt Betty

We finished up on Sunday morning with devotions and communion together.

Before leaving Durant my uncle Jerry and wife Annette took us out to dinner at a local restaurant. We had a wonderful time getting acquainted/reacquainted with so many relatives from around the country. Hope your next family reunion is just as meaningful for you!

Back to Arizona and A Little Texas Folklife

and welcome back to our travel blog. We arrived back in San Antonio in time for a Contra Dance weekend workshop, which included both English and Scottish Country dancing. The callers/teacherswere from New England and did a fantastic job.

The Arizona School of Health Sciences invited me back to Arizona to do some extra teaching in June. I flew out and stayed in the home of my good friends, Bob and Amy McMullen. They took me and Bob's Father, John, out for several meals. This wall displays a strong credo of the faculty, members of which are seen here at Dos Amigos. Amy and Bob with Monica and Bartley. It was never dull, with students like Shung, Harmoni, Derek and Sarah always ready to add spice to the mix at any time! Here, Stan, Nattasha, Dave and Jessica listen attentively as Muff goes over some of the more intricate teaching points we covered. (At least I presume that's the subject.)

When I'm in Arizona with Bob and Amy, we usually find an excuse to get out in the desert or the mountains, hike and take pictures.

This is an alligator bark juniper. The beautiful Salt River

Back to Texas and a favorite swimming pool, always a popular focus in the heat!

Our newest grandchild, Phineas Roger Bruce, is enjoying it all with his brother Christian and sister Lydia.

Our Bluebonnet Scottish Country dancers are invited to perform each June at the Texas Folklife Festival, and this year was no exception. We took our grandkids and watched with them after we performed.

They were duly impressed with the performers, and even had a chance to get in the act themselves. Visit the Folklife festival if you're in the area; it's well worth the effort. It's June 10-12 this year. See you there? Hope so!