James Curtis Geist

Jimmy's Family Summer Party James Curtis Geist

This is the story of the annual Geist Summer Picnic at Uncle Dale and Aunt Sandy's Farm in Northampton County Pennsylvania. The property has a an old stone house, a barn, farm animals, a pond and a stream. I have eight Aunts and Uncles and 21 cousins if they all show up for the Summer Party. My father's side of the family is Pennsylvania Dutch which means the family emigrated from Germany and has roots in agrarian culture. As Dad drives Mom, sister Jody and me on the country road, we make a right at the Zion Congregational Church down the dirt road. As we drive, dirt is kicked up behind us for a day of family, games, great Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine and laughter. There will be a roasted pig on the spit, and egg noodles, potato salad, cucumber salad, deviled eggs, red beet eggs, and Lebanon bologna. There will be birch beer and root beer for the kids, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for the adults. We will have an egg toss, play volleyball, have pony rides, horse shoes, eat great food, explore the farm property, and the day will end with Uncle Dale putting on a fireworks show for the family. The act of gathering as a family strengthens the connections made long ago. Family reunions are also like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts.