Hosted by my cousins on Jay and Christi's awesome spread in Carlos, the weekend included ATVs, games, target shooting and great eats. Most in attendance I hadn't seen in 35 years, some longer, but still that strange familiarity you develop with family and friends was intact.

The reunion coincided with Tornado Days in the neighboring town of Miltona. The festival commemorates a twister that touched down at 7 pm on July 18, 1970, and carried away the town. The festivities included a lot of rowdy farm boys (they grow 'em big) mixing it up at the Saturday night street dance. And beer. Lots of beer.

By Sunday night most of the extended family was headed for home. We had two more days so we took in a little sightseeing, down to the little town of Forada where our hosts were raised, and into Alexandria where they stake the claim of being the birthplace of America (it's a Viking thang). The nearby community of Kensington even has a museum with a runestone dug up from the area over one hundred years ago. For many it's proof positive that the Vikings beat Columbus to the New World, although the stone is regarded a fake in archeological circles. Go figure.