WHAT A TIME WE HAD!!!
As we were flying home to California last Sunday, Joani and I were talking about how much fun we had at the reunion. We reviewed all the various "events" and came to the conclusion it was just about as good as it could have been. With the possible exception of the restaurant service at the Grand Central on Tuesday evening, we felt everyone and everything came together and it all turned out fantastic.

I was so thrilled that so many people made the effort and came, and it was so great to have all that fun and share a wonderful experience with everyone. For those of you who had never been to Cottonwood Falls, I hope you weren't disappointed. It's such a charming place to have our "roots" and amazing how little it's changed over the years.

I spoke with Ruthanne's friend in Lawrence and she said Ruthanne seemed happier than she had seen her in months, certainly since Phil's death. I think the reunion (and Lex's wedding) did a lot toward pulling her out of her depression.

I know I have a few thank you's to write, and am hoping some of you will join me in doing that. Also, everyone owes Dick Hoffine $10/head for food ($5 for kids) and I know most of you paid that when you were there. If you didn't, please take care of that so that he and Carol can have a Christmas this year. Both of them put in so much effort to make the reunion happen, much of it behind the scenes, and I, for one, am very thankful for all their contributions.

Also, my cousin, Karla, gets big kudos for all she did in hosting us for the evening, homemade ice cream, squiring us through the schoolhouse, and helping me with all the local arrangements ahead of time. And she's technically not even a Finley!

Sharon and Steve Griffin were so kind to open Gagie's house for us to tour. It was a real treat and trip down memory lane for many of us. They're clearly taking great care of that wonderful old house.

Don Evans was so kind to spend the entire morning of the 4th at the golf course, making sure that everyone had all the equipment they needed--inlcuding loaning us his clubs and cart. He also generously gave us pointers on how to manage the sand greens. That's got to be a dying art. Peggy Stephenson and Tom Bell also loaned us their carts and clubs.

Apparently we're the first renters in the history of the new community building that were not able to return the keys. If any of you happened to find them (3 keys on a yellow twist-tie) in your pocket when you got home, let me know and I'll give you the address to send them. If no one finds them, we're getting stuck with a whopping $10 charge--and the wrath of Shirley, the City Clerk, who seems like someone we don't want to mess with. She did say her pet project is the restoration of the old bridge, so hopefully we'll be back on her good side when I tell her E. H. Finley is listed as one of the sponsering town councilmen on the bridge plaque, circa 1914.

I'm setting up a photo site on Snapfish for everyone to share reunion photos, and also an internet email group for mass communication. The Snapfish site is: http://finleyreunion.snapfish.com/snapfish

If you just want to upload, look, or download low resolution pics, you can use the Finley group email if you want to log on:
finley-family@googlegroups.com
The password is: Finley
If you want to buy prints or download high resolution pics, there's a fee, so you'll need to set up your own account.

If for some reason you're not posting to the site, consider picking a few favorite snapshots and sending them to Ruthanne. She doesn't have internet access and really enjoys photos and the memories they hold.

There were many moments that were special for me, and I wanted to share a couple of them with you. And I'd love to have any of you who have any moments of your own you want to share, send them to me, either on this blog, or via email, and I'll post them.

It knocked me out when we were sitting at the Emma Chase cafe on Thursday morning and Leola Evans came up and introduced herself. She wanted to meet us and say hello to Ruthanne. She is 91 years old, sharp and spry, and still lives out on her farm most of the year--though she does have a small place in town as her "ace in the hole." (her words) She just happened to be in the cafe that morning. Said she grew up with Hal and Ed, knew Monnie and Ruthanne, was a friend to Blanche, and she knew Hugh. She knew Hugh! Hugh Finley died in 1931! I did the math, and she would have been about 15 at that time (about Hal's age). Plenty old enough to remember him. But where else could you stumble onto someone who could say they knew your grandfather. (By the way, Mary Lou, she's not the same Leola that was Hal's girlfriend, is she? I think her maiden name is Childs.)

The other moment was when Bob Hoffine and Daria and I were in the library of the schoolhouse. Bob was pointing out the size of a grade school library in Kansas--I assume as compared to Louisiana?--and was talking about the importance and priority Kansans have always placed on education. That they would almost go without food before they would allow their kids to go un-schooled. Then, he gave voice to something that I wish had been said the day before at the gathering. He said that the entire legacy of our family rests solely on the shoulders of one person, Blanche Finley. Blanche Finley was the exceptional person that held her own family together, modeling the strength of that bond. And she was the one who gathered all of her grandchildren around her and passed along the stories and values of this family--in the sweetest way, demanded that we listen. She told us about our grandfather, and about his parents, who they were, what they were made of, and what had defined them. And in doing so, she told us who we were, too. For those of us who knew her, this reunion was a much a tribute to her and her legacy as anything else. And it was great to hear Bob saying that out loud. Amen, Bob.

Again, thanks to all for a fabulous time and all that everyone contributed. I really felt the spirit of a strong, vibrant family when we were all together. And that's the thread we're all carrying forward from humble beginnings on the Kansas prairie.

Let's make sure we don't wait another 50 years for another reunion.

Love to all! Come see us in San Francisco.
Bruce


Dick & Carol Hoffine
14514 W. 91st St.
Lenexa, KS 66215
dhoff@everestkc.net


Karla & Dean Edmiston
97 Main St.
karla_edmiston@sbcglobal.net

Sharon & Steve Griffin
324 Cherry St.

Don Evans
321 Elm St.

Peggy Stephenson
200 Oak St.

Tom Bell
405 Spring St.

Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845


Ruthanne Lacey
1429 Kasold Drive, #125
Lawrence, KS 66049

Bruce Lacey
7 Grove Hill Ave.
San Anselmo, CA 94960
2laceys@gmail.com

Josh Hoffine's photography can be viewed at:
http://www.joshuahoffine.com/