The
Snowman Family Reunion
by Carol Abbott ©
For the Snowman Family
there is always somewhat of a let down after Christmas is over. Winter has only just
begun, but without the glitter and jolly good fun of the holidays, it just seems like
something is missing. So...many years ago, the Snowman family decided that what they
needed was a good old-fashion Winter picnic to bring some excitement back into the
season.
It's much easier
for them to travel in the cold months, so they always plan their Family Reunion for late
January. They have also learned that the parks are not nearly as crowded at that
time of year, so they never have a hard time reserving the shelter house of their choice.
And they always pick one near the soft ball field, so they can keep up the family
rivalry of who has the best fast (snow)ball of the year. Come meet the gang and be
sure to grab a hot dog and soda to sustain you while you say "HI" to everyone.
 This is Uncle Fred. He is something of a clown and always tries to
get everyone giggling (which isn't too hard). He lives in New Jersey and
proudly says he's one of the Jersey Boyz, along with Springsteen and Willis, which always
sends everyone into fits of hysteria. |
|
 Tommy is just the
jolliest little fellow. All the family just wants to pinch his little chubby cheeks
whenever they see him. He is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his successful
Uncle Buddy out in Hollywood but his Mom and Dad have suggested that he go into a good,
steady profession like accounting.
|
. |
 |
| . |
Barnaby is a little fuddled most of the time but so good hearted that everyone wants to
take care of him. He makes friends easily and little creatures flock around him as
though sensing his innocent nature. He teaches woodworking at the High school back
in Stowe, Vermont. |
Great-Uncle Bob has a heating oil business in Minnesota. He is probably the richest
member of the family but he never 'puts on the dog' with the other family members and has
quietly paid tuition to put several of the youngsters through college. He and his
wife Myra are showing pictures of their trip to Alaska, where they went on a Christmas
cruise. Myra got a little fluffier (gained a few pounds) as a result of too many
visits to the midnight buffet. She had a real weakness for the creampuffs and the
lobster bisque.
|
. |
 |
. |
This is Bud "Frosty" Snowman. He was an
aspiring actor, working as an extra, when he got tapped to play the lead in the very
successful TV version of Frosty the Snowman.
It was the making of his career, but
unfortunately from then on he was hopelessly typecast. Now Hollywood speaks of a
'Bud "Frosty" Snowman type' but they considered him too old and didn't cast him
in the sequel. The family boycotted the Frosty II show, saying that is wasn't nearly
as good as the original.
|
|
| Bernice is a kindergarten teacher in Bay
Point, Maine. She feels her biological clock tick-tocking away and came to this
picnic hoping to renew and deepen her friendship with Barnaby who she met while they both
were attending teacher's college in New Hampshire ten years ago. They actually wrote
to each other for a while, but lost track after a few years. Now Bernice is not
feeling quite so carefree and as though she has forever to settle down and she hopes that
Barnaby hasn't gone and got himself engaged or anything in the mean time. She loves children, especially the little ones, and always plans the kiddy
activities for the picnics. All the children run to give her hugs as soon as she
arrives. And she bakes lovely chewy molasses cookies to use as prizes for the
afternoon games. |
 |
 This is Howard. He
always comes to the reunion in his Motor Home. It is equipped with a wonderful snow
machine which makes it possible to drive through warmer climates but his wife, Trina, is
so nervous that they might have car trouble, that Howard generally stays on northern
routes.
|
. |
Trina practices her relaxation tapes and meditates before
starting off on any trip in the motor home. It seems to help... |
 Roderick is really
handy, loves to manage things, and makes it his mission to get to the park early every
year so that he can clear the paths and set up the barbecue grills. His wife Brenda
makes the best coleslaw in the family --- although everyone in the family insists on
calling it "coldslaw"---go figure! (Their son is chubby-cheeked Tommy) |
|
  Briley
is the talk of the family. He has an eye for the ladies and is a real flirt.
He just can't seem to settle down and, as Grandma Rosy says with a certain relish, brings
a different floozy to the picnic every year. He sells snowmobiles and does his own
commercials on TV. He thinks he could have made it BIG in Hollywood just like cousin
Buddy, if he had just taken the plunge when he was a few years younger. But in complete
honesty, his commercials are so bad they are unintentionally funny and he sells a lot of
snowmobiles because of them.As for
Ethelred, she is really very fond of Briley and the fact that she is taller than he is
doesn't seem to bother either of them. But Ethelred knows she will have to play hard
to get if she wants to keep him interested. (She's not like some of the empty headed
gals he has squired in past years. Though she enjoys a good party, she would really
like to get a commitment and a ring -- instead of just a fox fur... like Briley gave
Doreen, last year's girlfriend.)
|
|
Over near
the fire pits(but not too near), Brenda is busy setting out the feast. Her
dedication to making the annual picnic and reunion a resounding success is every bit as
driven as Roderick's. Everyone is getting
mighty hungry for Brenda's famous coldslaw... and she made extra bowls this year. So
they won't run out, like they did a couple of years ago!
Boy was everyone disappointed when that happened.
And Brenda vowed it would never occur again, as long as she had her health (and carrots,
mayo and cabbage)!
|
 |
 |
|
It is quite difficult to find grill cooks for the Snowman's picnic. (all that heat,
you know) However, Abominable Snowman is always happy to oblige, so long as there
are plenty of leftovers for him to take home. And Bud wears his fire suit that he
uses for stunt work out in Hollywood and becomes Abominable's able assistant. |
 |
 |
 Gregory is hard at work
on his degree in Psychology. It's taking him a bit longer, since he only goes to school in
the evenings--and only in winter, of course. Uncle Bob told him to hurry up because
Myra could use some of his services. Then Bob laughed really loud and slapped Greg
on the back. However, Myra didn't seem all that amused.(I really think Gregory chose this particular profession because he
could see himself sitting in his chair holding his pipe in his hand and listening intently
with a concerned look on his face. He is seriously considering getting some reading
glasses, too.)
|
Raymond is an ornithologist. He loves these family reunions because he gets a chance
to study all of the birds in a new region every year. He is married to Becky and
they have twins, Todd and Tina. |
  |
  |
Right now, Todd's chasing Tina around the park, growling and shouting "Here comes the
abominable showman!! Run, Tina, run!!" Becky's deep in conversation with
Grandma Rosy, and doesn't seem to notice the commotion. Of course, Ray is talking to
the birds and doesn't hear anything but bird talk. Oh, well, Tina runs over and climbs into the ample lap
of Auntie Myra and Todd grabs another hot dog and heads over to the playground with some
of the other cousins. |
*Myra
was adopted from Snow Buddies.
 |
 |
Myra* is just the dearest old gal. So fond of picnics..... and high teas
.....birthday parties .... and ladies' luncheons ..... buffets .... mid-night dinners by
candlelight ..... banquets and family suppers. She has a heart as big as she is and
has her husband Bob wrapped around her little finger. She loves hats and has so many
different ones that she had to have a special closet built with 100 shelves lining the
four walls to hold them all. |
|
|
Oh
my.... look who managed to get to the Reunion in time! Straight from their
Honeymoon. It's Barbara and Frank. Looks like they are happy to be here.
Or maybe they are just happy to be anywhere so long as they are together.
They first fell in love dancing to Lionel's recording of "Stuck on You",
playing it over and over again. I noticed Bernice trying to coax Barnaby in
their general direction a little while ago. Hoping for a bit of inspiration maybe?
|
| Gracie
is just about the most talented knitter in the Snowman family. She has made
beautiful scarves for nearly everyone in the family at one time or another, giving them as
Christmas and birthday gifts. And every month, 100s of pairs of socks! Several
very up-scale shops in Colorado carry them and sell every pair Gracie can send them.
Select customers beg to be put on the list to be notified whenever a new pattern
arrives in the stores. They are true works of art. This year she is using lots
of golden yellow mixed with muted shades of red and green. WOW! |
 |
|
Seems like every year there are more and more
snow kids hanging out at the playground. All the cousins love the chance to see each
other and spend the whole day catching up on all the family news and comparing notes on
school, sports and their favorite X-Box or Wii games. |
|
|
|
|
   |
|
 |
|
| The
Thompson triplets each like different things but always stand up for each other whenever
it's necessary. Violet is all girl.
She loves to play dress-up and writes poetry but if someone picks on one of her
brothers....well...she can hold her own in a fight to the consternation of her mom,
Ruby.
Her brother Virgil is a talented musician and gets lessons
from his dad, Jimmy. He wants to make an audition tape for admittance to Juilliard
when he is older but his Mom is reluctant to think about him being so far from home.
Turns out that Victor is interested in magic and has
already mastered a couple of rather challenging and complicated illusions including making
a sudden snow burst appear. He got a copy of Big Book of Magic Tricks from
his Dad this year for Christmas. |
|
Tyler
and Jason have more energy than any other six snow kids combined. Their poor mother
Gracie took up knitting to calm herself when Ty and Jace were very young because they were
like Energizer Bunnies--they never slowed down. They spend a lot of time whooping it
up building snow forts in the back yard and engaging in spirited snowball fights.
They also will chuck snowballs at the neighbor's cat for hours on end when he is left out
in the yard! |
 |
Rosemary is
friends with Gracie and is a very good, very patient neighbor. She is happy to
give Gracie a few hours respite by keeping an eye on Tyler and Jason but she learned early
on to shut her cat Roscoe in the back bedroom with his litter box while the boys are
visiting. It's a good thing that her cat Roscoe seems to have a sense of humor. He
can be taking a nap in the sun shining through the family room window and when he hears
the boys out back building a snow fort, he immediately runs to the door to be let out.
He then makes a stately entrance into the back yard, tail held high with just a
tiny regal flick of the tail tip and eyes looking anywhere but at the boys.
Snowballs fly...several yowls and answering shouts of glee. This has been the ritual
for three and a half years. Both sides play their parts and everyone has a
grand old time. |
|
| Hamish, Colleen and
Sean live just north of Houghton in the upper peninsula of Michigan. All three love
to ice skate, ice fish and do a lot of cross country skiing. I see that Sean is telling everyone about
the "really huge" fish that he landed on his last trip. It was a
real humdinger! And won him a prize at the U.P. Ice Festival. He got his
picture in the paper and everything! |
 |
 |
As usual, everyone
was shy to start the dancing. So Fred and Ginger gave them some inspiration by
staging one of their spectacular dance numbers and, next thing you know, everyone was out
there shaking a leg and dancing like a Chorus Line. Most fun songs are the same every year: The Bunny
Hop, the Hokey Pokey and YMCA. Even Grandma Rosy gets out and boogies on those. |
 |
With
only a little coaxing from Ginger, Rachel and Rhoda were ready to show off the great
routine that they have been practicing in their Tap n Jazz class at the Y. Miss
Cindy, their instructor says it is good enough to win a prize at the competition in
Minneapolis in a couple of weeks. |
 |
 |
|
Cousin
Craig never took a dance lesson in his life, but good dance music will find him at first
just tappin' a toe, then jiggling his knee and snapping his fingers. Pretty soon
he's up on his feet and throwing himself into the whole experience. (Just watch out
not to get too close out there on the dance floor. Otherwise, you may be run over in
his enthusiasm.) |
| Ruby
loves these family reunions so she can catch up with what everyone in the family is
getting up to. She enjoys the music and adores having hubby Jimmy up there playing
with the others. You can see how proud she is as Jimmy whips right in to the banjo
solo on The Devil's Dream. |
|
|
|
 |
Over at the ball
field, things were getting way out of hand until Archibald, the Snowball Throwing
Competition Judge stepped in and took control of the situation. It seems that
sometimes the best motivator has a little "fire-power" of his own. After that, things settled down and got a lot more organized. It gave
everyone a chance to see what was going on and also offered some of the shyer guys a
chance to show their stuff on the mound. |
 |
 |
| Ronald was the eventual
winner of the Best Fast snowball toss contest. He felt so good about winning, that
he wowed everyone by juggling four balls at once. Everyone got a big kick out of this and it was a great
finale to the day. |
Well, another wonderful
winter reunion has reached it's successful conclusion and with many hugs and prolonged
"good-byes" and the first tentative plans laid down for next year's
get-together, the Snowman Family says "See you next year!"
If you have a snowman picture that you would like to have "join the reunion"
please email me. Either attach the file or give me
the address of the page. After he (or she) is added to the site I will gladly notify you,
if you would like me to. Happy days
.
Links to the Original Writing Pages
. |
to the Main Index |
go to next selection |
Use this Pull Down Menu to Decide
Where You are Going Next In
The Original Writing Pages
at Carol's Place |
|
|
|
This
Page has been visited by
Nice People.
(New counter installed October 2010 ) |
Background
for this page
is an exclusive design by Carol's Place
To check out more FREE backgrounds
Go to my Backgrounds Pages
by following this Link |
| The
background for this short story was found many years ago on the net. I did not keep
a record of where I found all the 'pretty images' I saved in those days. If you
recognize this as your creation and wish credit on my pages, please contact me by
email. Thanks. 
Want to get in touch?
email me |
