The Bennet (my mother’s family) reunion was held the other day at Lumber Jack Park.

Lumber Jack Park is in an area where most of my aunts and uncles lived, so all of us cousins are used to having family reunions at the park. It has become tradition.

Lumber Jack Park is out in the middle of nowhere, but it is a nice little park. Unfortunately, there is no running water to speak of and no real toilets, only portapotties which needed to be emptied about two weeks ago. But, at least they didn’t smell bad.

There were probably about 50 people there, though I didn’t know very many. While I knew most of my cousins, it was their children that I had no idea of who they were.

Everyone was to bring a dish to pass and the reunion would provide barbeque’s and drinks. The food was good and there was plenty of it.

After we ate, there was a white elephant auction. Every one was asked to bring a wrapped item. Then, these items were auction off with the bidders not knowing what they were bidding on. It proved to be quite humorous.

I noticed that there were two large boxes that were the same size and shape and were wrapped in the same Christmas wrapping paper. When the first of the two boxes was put up for bid, I couldn’t resist, especially when they noted that it was quite heavy. So, I bid on it. At thirteen dollars, it was mine.

When I opened it, I discovered that I had purchased a four foot artificial Christmas tree complete with lights. Well, for thirteen dollars, I felt like I had gotten my moneys worth.

When the second of the two boxes came up for auction a few minutes later, I was pretty sure that it was another artificial Christmas tree. If it was, then I would have two identical trees.

I think that everyone else guessed that the box contained another Christmas tree so there was not much interest in bidding. For eleven dollars, the box was mine and yes, it was another tree identical to the first.

I now have two artificial Christmas trees complete with lights. Maybe I can put one on either side of the driveway. Or, on either side of Pinky. (Pinky is a flamingo made out of red rope lights that sit out in our yard.)

One woman, a relative of some sort, bid five dollars on a mystery gift. It turned out to be a roll of toilet paper. And since the portapotty didn’t have any, she was willing to sell some at a dollar a sheet.

One of my cousins, Vicky, painted a picture that was the envy of all of my other cousins. She said that she was going to donate it to the white elephant sale, but she, her self, couldn’t be there.

Since the last item up for bid was a box large enough to hold the painting, everyone assumed that the painting was in that box. So the bidding was fast and high. I think that it sold for about fifty dollars.

When the box was opened, it was not the painting. It was a candle holder instead. Apparently, the picture never made it to the auction.

I ended up with two artificial Christmas trees and a fish bowl. I have plans for the trees so all was not lost.

All and all, we stayed about 5 hours. At the end, I was really tired.