When Geoff was a kid, he grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His Mother was one of 11 siblings, the majority of which lived about 60 miles away in the State Capital of Lansing. As part of an agreement between his Mother and Father, for moving her so far away from her Mother, his Dad would take them to Lansing as often as requested to see Geoff’s maternal Grandmother. Usually, they would also visit with one of her Sisters and their family in the same trip, and very often that would be Geoff’s Aunt Mac and Uncle Frank and his cousins, Ricky and Vicky. They were twins born the same year as Geoff and part of the seven cousin group fondly known as the “49ers”. Rick was one of Geoff’s favorite cousins and the male cousin he knew best on that side of the family (There are 41 first cousins on his Mother’s side). Also, on Labor Day every year, there would be a big Family Reunion at one of the major parks in the Lansing area (Usually 
Fitzgerald County Park in Grand Ledge or Potter Park in Lansing). Geoff’s chances to get to the reunion after he left home for the Navy in 1967 became few and far between, and after his Grandmother died in 1970, the reunion changed venues to properties owned by one of the families in the next generation and to dates more in the 
summer months. This year, the reunion was held on August 9th at a small park in East Lansing and we were able, for the first time in 11 years, to get to it. Geoff brought his bbq bean recipe and guitar, and his Cousin Rick was there too with his guitar, and another of the 49ers, Jody, who also plays was able to make it. (Of the seven 49ers, five were able to attend the reunion.) The weather was excellent and the food was plentiful and terrific. A lot of music was played and one of the few surviving Uncles from the Lynch family, Uncle Phillip, was able to attend as well. Although the party only lasted a couple of hours, there was lots of reminiscing done and everyone cooed over the youngest members of the family. We are not sure when we will make it to the reunion again but this was a special time and we will remember it for a long time.
