Suzanna Danna

Every year (except one, which will remain nameless… [glaring at 2008]) I get to go to Green Bay for a reunion of sorts.

I have grown up with groups of people and reunions.

My mother and father have a group of four couples that they grew up with, and went to college with, and got married with, and had children along the same time line as, and lived in the same areas as for most of my childhood. I can remember most of the parents’ 40th birthday parties, their children’s birthday parties, Christmases spent with, vacations had with, and retreats to the lodge at Lake Lanier in Georgia with those families.

My family and extended family enjoy the company of one another and therefore spend as much time with each other as possible. Yes, we are healthy and normal. Maybe a little nuts, but perfectly happy and functional… now*.

*She said ominously, but then moved on without explanation. Oh, come on, it’s a joke.

Every other year my immediate family and a host of neighbors, extended family members, and other friends gather in Destin, FL for a week of drinking vats of Bloody Mary’s on the beach at 10 am. What? It’s tradition. You don’t fuck with tradition. We also have a shrimp and sundae night. No, they don’t go together…. TRA-DI-TION. And I quote, “You want motherfucking nuts on your ice cream?”

You have all heard about the Ya-Ya weekends and the gatherings of the Kerr Krew girls. I love you all. I do.

But the Green Bay thing is different. Am going to try and be non-schmoopie. Annnd Go.

This is a group of people whom I have chosen as an extended family and they have in turn chosen to accept me as part of their rag-tag loving family. We are a tribe. I came into Weetacon during the third year and have been going every since. Except one time… (… still glaring at 2008). And even then, the tribe included me by calling, texting, sharing photos and stories. It was almost like I was there. BUT NOT. Suffice it to say, I will (crossing fingers) never miss another one. I dig these cats. I think that it comes from mutual respect across the board and the fabulous lack of drama. Well, the liquid panty remover** doesn’t hurt either.

**Please see recipe at the bottom, courtesy of Scotty Boom Boom.

There are games, there is normally a theme, there was a fashion show, there is a charity raffle, there is a sleigh ride, there is pineapple fluff and booyah, there is laughter, there is drinking (OH the drinking), there is the required Doctor… (see below… thanks Miss Meg). I think I see a developing pattern. PS … Shut up or I will hug Jane…. Again. I got my hat stolen while on the sleigh ride by Scotty and then tackled him in the snow for retribution. PS.. Scotty did not go down. He is scrappy. Also, FAIL. There are hugs and kisses and karaoke, and SWEET CAROLINE, bah bah bah! And programs, and good food and laughter. We scheduled naps y’all. NAPS, because that is the way we motherfucking roll, yo. Also, because we are feeling the age. I get loved on and praised and people laugh at my lame ass jokes and I named a woman Bruce. I got to wear a pretty dress, show my boobs, got hit on by a dude that was WAY drunk and seriously opened with this, “Your tits are really pretty.” And then proceeded to ask if he could motorboat them. No, I am not kidding. I snaked an arm around Scotty’s waist and because he is incredibly kind and very gentlemanly he interceded. We had pantscakes at an unholy hour and I popped my karaoke cherry… kind of. Am yella. This is my tribe. We are the Pineapple Fluff Gang.

You people, you know who you are. You mean the world to me. You lift me up, you are the wind beneath my wings, you send me sparkly things just to make me smile. You never offer advice but give superb counsel when asked. You love me for who I am regardless of my wardrobe, financial status, employment status, ethnicity, religion or creed and whether or not I am all made up pretty or look like death warmed over. I love you, man.

**Alcoholic Apple Pie Recipe
Ganked from Scotty Boom Boom’s FB page <- I totally don’t feel bad for ganking it because he didn’t go down when I pounced on him for stealing my hat.

½ gallon apple juice
½ cup (slightly less, actually) of brown sugar
2 tbsp white sugar (could raise brown sugar to make up for it)
2 cinnamon sticks
3 shakes of ground nutmeg
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add 500 mL of everclear or equivalent once cool.
Add ¼ tsp of 2x strength vanilla extract with liquor.
Final ABV: 19.8%

Notes from Boom Boom:
“I prefer it with brandy (it's smoother) which lowers the alcohol to about 8.5% unless you raise the proportion.
I'd let it mellow for a 2-4 weeks if you can wait, but it should be fine as-is. Depending how good your sterile technique is (I sanitize everything like I'm brewing) you may want to refrigerate it if it's <15% alcohol or so.
Use something decent [brandy] that you wouldn't be afraid to drink in a mixed drink, but you are putting it in with a ton of sugar and spice so you don't need to get extravagant. Last time I used E&J, which I think was about $15 or so a bottle. Don't use cheap vanilla, though--get the real stuff!”