Gumnick Family Reunion 2006

From Gumnickopedia

The Gumnick Family Reunion 2006 (GFR06) was occasioned by the Gumnick-Jones Wedding.

1 Thursday, July 13
- 1.1 Arrivals
- 1.2 Baseball!
2 Friday, July 14
3 Saturday, July 15
4 Sunday, July 16
5 Monday, July 17
6 Souvenir Booklet

Thursday, July 13

Arrivals

Mark and Ed flew in to Nashville on Thursday morning, rented a car, and drove down to Chattanooga. They arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Hixson (official hotel of GFR06). The Illinois Gumnicks drove into the porte-cochere just as Ed and Mark were checking in.

Mom, Dad, Beth, and Rich had left gift baskets of yummy Chattanooga treats and packets of tourism information for us at the front desk.

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Baseball!

BellSouth Park—view of the field from our seats

In the evening, the Malmbergs, the Swansons, the three Illinois Gumnick girls, Beth, Rich, Mark, and Ed went to see the Chattanooga Lookouts play the Birmingham Barons

at BellSouth Park. The home team won 2–1. We were only 1/2 percent of the crowd, but we made 10 percent of the noise! It’s hard to believe we weren’t mentioned in the game summary, even though we won a spectacular quantity of windshield washer fluid as the crowning event of the evening.

The rain delay only added to the fun! A little danger as the thunder roared. We (Houstonians) enjoyed the bargain prices on beer and refreshments and passed the time by snacking, joking (and taking pictures on the cell phones.)

Ed and Mary (Mark in background!)

Anne and Bride Beth

Joan and Bob (There's Mark again.)

It was also Bread Night, so we each left with a loaf of free bread. Many of these were donated to Pat Boone's Bethel Bible Village (home for kids) the next morning.

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Friday, July 14

While Mark went to do some sightseeing, Ed was trapped in the hotel room working on a project for a client. When he finally wrapped things up around 2:00, he went out to celebrate with some lunch at Old Saigon Restaurant. This was a bad idea, but he wouldn’t know it until the food poisoning kicked in about 12 hours later.

But oblivious to the toxins percolating in his tummy, Ed then picked up Mark, and they went for went for a walk (Ed) and a photo shoot (Mark) on the Riverwalk just below the Chickamauga Dam.

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Saturday, July 15

There was a wedding, as I vaguely recall. And maybe also a reception? —Ed

That evening (following the wedding) we went to a special open house at a gallery exhibiting Beth's work. Mary fell in love with Beth's beautiful multi-piece "America the Beautiful." Anne bought a cool doggie shelf for Joan. It was a nice wine and cheese reception. Some folks from the wedding party (including the bride and groom) went to dinner. Malmbergs and Swansons had a fun dinner together enjoying margaritas (and some Mexican food too!)

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Sunday, July 16

Wonderful brunch for the family and out-of-town wedding guests at UT Chattanooga. Dad was the master of ceremonies for a slide show of embarrassing pictures of all of us kids in all of our “awkward phases.”

Several reunioneers adjourned after lunch to the Chattanooga Market. Ed bought a print called “Two Sheep Meeting” by Wendy Detrick Worsham, an artist from Canton, Georgia. (I will post a photograph of it here soon, because this site needs some sheep!)

Later, Mark and Ed visited Mom and Dad’s new place before heading back to Nashville for their return flight.

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Monday, July 17

Canoe trip. I’m told there are no pictures, but there must be some good stories to tell! —Ed

We didn't take cameras, so there is only the verbal history--we were sorry that Jane didn't make it. I think we missed her by a few minutes.

The canoe teams were: John/Emily; Anne/Kenneth; Bob/Joan; Lori/Sarah; lucky Dad (alone); John/Johnny; Mary/Robert; and the guides. John/Emily were our most fastest/most experienced canoers. We canoed for about an hour and then our guides stopped us at the swimming hole. It was a wonderful, refreshing experience to dive into the cool water. Everyone enjoyed themselves on the rope swing! Anne was amused when she got back into the canoe and found a frog had settle in the insole of her sandal! We had a wonderful time. Thanks Dad for planning a fun outing!

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