According to Mr. Smith a rendezvous was an annual gathering of mountain men for the purpose of fur trading between the years 1920- 1940. Besides the usual bartering and selling that went on during each Summer gathering, there were games, conversations, adventures, and ultimately traditions. While those were the aims of the rendezvous, I'd hate to skip over the overwhelming importance of food at the rendezvous. In between every activity, there was food, and a lot of it. In short, a rendezvous was an annual, traditional party.
I'd like to suggest that Oakley, Idaho on the 24th of July is a type of rendezvous. We gather for games, conversation, adventure, and ultimately tradition in the form of the Goose Creek Run-Off, the Rodeo, the parade, and the Oakley play. We eat. Then, we eat again. We disregard any stomach pains and keep enjoying the joys of penny candy, trail mix, and Aunt Linda's cookies.
This year was the same, with one dramatic difference: Harry Potter's collision with the Oakley Rendezvous. Harry Potter conjured a silence spell when the books were picked up from the post office. After reading the first chapter aloud to the gathered family at the post-race breakfast, the whole weekend was quieter because so many people were buried in the pages of wizards and muggles. Those that attempted to openly discuss the book were immediately hushed and told not to ruin the ending. And so it was with the rendezvous and Harry. [Side note: I thought the book was an appropriate conclusion to the "epic tale" and loved it.]
We missed so many of you though: Clinton, Lisa, Natalie, JJ, Julianne, and Joe. Don't worry, Will and Owen, we missed you too. In my case, I kept thinking about all of you and about Mom. In Oakley there is a closeness to family not felt anywhere else. I kept feeling grateful for the times we've shared there and for the memories we are sure to make next year and the year after that. It's a great place, that Oakley is. Let's rendezvous next year too.
You´re right Laura. Oakley is fabulous. As is your fun writing.
ReplyDeleteThere´s no way I´m missing that rendezvous next year!
Laura if you keep making posts like this I am going to become too intimidated to post. Your writing is too good. "Harry conjured a silence spell" - too clever. Just an example.
ReplyDeleteWe missed Oakley too. And I not sure how soon we will be able to rendezvous again. Doctors seem to have outgrown the mountain men days.
We haven't finished the 7th book yet. We are reading it together and since we are not together much reading is slow going. Most nights I beg Lisa for just one more chapter, but she reminds me I have to be awake at 5am or some earlier hour and so the suspense continues.
Next time anyone comes to Dallas, I recommend a visit to Fort Worth. We had a great time with Clark and Teresa here this weekend and discovered a great new place. There is nothing like real cowboy Texas.