ALL IN THE FAMILY (Our Crew Picnic Story) PART I (Story Train)

It was a hot summer day, and everyone was ready for the the December 04' Crew picnic... Ron was the head of the cooking, and only the best would do for him. He told Monica to buy only the freshest of veggies, because our pouches wouldn't want anything less! Judith agreed, as she began to shuck the corn, and Coleen wanted to help sprinkle a bit of 'sugar' in each of the wrapped foils, for the grill. Melody stood close, as she stroked her hair and Candy made sure the zipper on her size 16 jeans fit perfectly. Colleen called out to everyone 'Tammy, Alisa, Sharon, and Bon Bon, come help me set up the tables and chairs.' Each ran with vigor, as they began unfolding the chairs that were stored over the winter in James' truck. James yelled back to Colleen and Monica, 'be sure to have them wipe the chair down', and the ladies accommodated. Ummm, the food smells so good, Vera thought, as she monitored every aspect of Ron's cooking. Melinda asked Lucy what she contributed, and not only did Lucy say 'protein shakes', but so did Aimee Dee and Susan. 'More Protein Shakes', Ron said, as he made a pitiful face to them. "All this cooking I am doing, and protein shakes!" Nancie laughed and said 'Ask Brenda #1 what she brought"... 'ok, what did you bring Brenda?" Brenda smiled and said, "I came with something everyone can have.... fun!" Brenda pulled out a large 'twister' game, and Cheryl ran over to begin unfolding the mat, and setting up the spinner. "It has been years since I have played twister'... Kitcat screamed... HEY, IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TWIST ANYTHING, much less a our bodies!" Every fell out laughing, and Sharyn started everyone off, who was not already busy with Ron, Colleen and Monica, cooking. That food just smells like heaven, Vera thought, as she walked over to the otherside of the picnic... there were at least 10 tents all set up, and Melissa, Christine, Barb and Donna #1, were in charge of this arrangement. Everyone was told to pack for an 'overnight' picnic, and everyone did. "Do you think we have enough room," Brenda #2 asked Deena and Christie. Barb looked around and replied "we are all able to fit anywhere now, and we can thank God for that!" Donna #2 and Karen were doing something special. They were not only making each tent comfortable, but they were putting 'midnight snacks' under each pillow. "If Ron and Vera find out we are doing this, they will freak out", Judith told Tinker Bell. "Too bad, because we may want to have something after midnight, and that heavy food won't do it", Tinker Bell replied. Each tent was a different color... and only Karen and Julie knew the secrets behind that. I would not be until after midnight that we would find out why, ~~'so we may as well wait' ~~Jamie and Gloria sang over and over again to everyone! Such sweet voices.... lol! Little Missy began handing out song sheets to everyone, and of course, Glori supplied the music. Bridget helped Glori, as she set up her piano, and Bridget was an expert singer, as well. "Who wants to hear that stuff?" Kathy asked, because she was the expert rapper! "DO AN DON'T AND CAN AND WON'T.. THAT THE WAY WE STRIP THE NOTE!".... lol... We all laughed at her, 'but that is what she does best', Judith said. Howard is also an expert rapper, because he won the Rapping Contest at last years picnic. Ashley came in second, with her version of "DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY", and Kristina came in third with her "SLAPPY RAPPY' song. Personally, I was hanging out, taking names for the poetry contest..."Mary, Kelly, Loni... oh, what about you Melody, would you like to present something? Mary and Kelly both were sincere poets, while Loni was a sensual poet, like Vera. "I think I have something written, said Melody", and she signed her name up to the sheet, as well. "What time will we do the poetry contest," Angy asked. I think Vera said after dinner, and singing, Alisa replied. "Miss Beckie is setting up a fashion contest, and I think she knows she will win"... so hot in those jeans, and that pretty pink haulter", Heather yelled to Annette, and they both laughed. "What is so funny" Dee asked, and Miss Beckie glanced over with a big grin... "go on and laugh, but where did you get those shoes from"... No one knew who she was talking to, so everyon looked down, and laughed! "Annette, Barbara and Jessica all wanted in on the fashion show, because they were all in a size 12! "Dianne was almost there, in a 14, but she knew that if she ate any of Ron's cooking, it would be over! Brooke was over the side dishes with Liz and Nurse Gracie... spegetti, maccaroni and cheese, potato salad, protein salad (eggs, chicken, cheese and nuts), which was a creation of Vera. Rosebud helped out as much as she could, while L. Davis, knew she was the best Coordinator out there. She was running around making sure everything was in place for the poetry performance... the tents were all set up properly, and when she found those snacks under the pillows, she ran directly to Vera! Delores and Chelle tried to stop her, but Lyndsy pointed the way to where Vera was. "We are in trouble now" Donna and Karen shouted, and they tried to rush over to Vera and Ron, before Lyndsy got there. Vera was next to Ron and James, as they were standing over the hot grill. "You think that fire is hot enough", James asked Ron... Ron looked at Vera, and Vera looked over at Alisa and JJ and asked, 'does anyone have anything to snack on until the food is ready?" EVERYONE FELL OUT LAUGHING, AND THE PICNIC WAS OFFICIALLY ON THAT THIS POINT! ENJOY! Vera, Crew Encourager PS... PLEASE, LETS CONTINUE THIS STORY AS MUCH AS WE CAN... SO FAR, IT IS FUNNY! VERA

Vera!!! Your KILLIN me!!! I Love it, and YOU, Melody

Before the poetry and rapping contest were set to begin. James put on the boom box and everyone began to do the "Electric Slide". Dee yelled out, " A picnic ain't a picnic without the Electic Slide" Karen was the first one on the dance floor, and the rest of us followed suit. Ron was right behind JJ and Nancie out in front. We all looked so good dancing because there were no more bubble guts/butts!!! Now Barb and Deena, almost had a little fight, because each want the last bit of the Tropical Crystal light. The grill was long abandoned, but plenty of protein was everywhere. And we all looked like family cause we were skinny with thinning hair!!! The picnic hit a hitch, but Christie ran to fetch, a super sized bottle of extra strength Gas-X ok y'all keep it going, Vera you are the supreme motivator you are our V-jay!!!

WHEN CRISTI GOT BACK WITH THE GAS-X MELISSA, JANIE, RON AND SUSAN WERE SOOOOO GLAD TO SEE HER... THEY HAD ALL DOUBLED OVER... BUT THANKS TO CRISTI... WITH IN 30 MIN THINGS WERE READY TO ROCK AND ROLL... YOU SEE BY NOW IT WAS BEGINNING TO START TO LOOK LIKE DUSK IN THE SKY..YOU COULD SEE THE HINT OF PINK COME ACROSS... THE SKYLINE... AND BON PIPED UP WITH THE BIG IDEA TO PACK UP EVERYTHING AND HEAD TO THE BEACH.... THAT WAY WE COULD REALLY SEE THE SUNSET.... WELL VERA BEING THE TEAM MOTIVATOR THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA... SO SHE STARTED GETTING EVERYONE TOGETHER... RON AND JAMES HELPED WITH THE HEAVY STUFF LIFTING THOSE COOLERS FULL OF BOTTLED WATER.... JUDITH, CANDY, DEE GOT ALL THE VEG'S PACKED UP THAT WERE LEFT.. DONNA AND LINDA TOOK UP A COLLECTION OF A COUPLE BUCKS EACH AND THEY HEADED TO THE STORE TO GET ALL BEEF HOTDOGS.... BRENDA AND DEANNA HEADED HOME TO PICK UP BLANKETS WE COULD USE AT THE BEACH. AND CHRISTINE HEADED HOME FOR THE VOLLEY BALL NET. WELL ABOUT ONE HOUR LATER... WE WERE ALL ON THE BEACH... WITH OUR BOOMBOX PLAYING THOSE OLD SURFER SONGS... I THINK RON HAD THE TAPE. WE SET UP THE NET AND WERE PICKING TEAMS FOR VOLLEY BALL.... CAN'T YOU JUST SEE US DOWN THERE JUMPING AROUND IN THE SAND... (AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE MOVIE BEACH PARTY... THEN YOU MISSED THAT IMAGE...) WOW WE SURE GOT TUCKERED OUT FAST WITH ALL THE DAYS ACTIVITY AT THE PARK AND NOW VOLLEYBALL.... WE ARE READY FOR OUR PROTEIN PICK ME UP.. WELL JAMES AND RON HAD BUILT US A NICE BON FIRE AND YOU SHOULD OF SEEN VERA... HERE SHE COMES FROM ABOUT 1/2 MILE DOWN THE BEACH DRAGGING THIS LOG THAT SHE WANTS TO PUT ON THE BON FIRE... WELL JAMES SAYS IT IS JUST LIKE VERA.... SHE DON'T WANT THE SPARK TO EVER WHERE OUT... AND YOU KNOW WHAT... THAT IS SO TRUE... WE ALL SAT THERE ON OUR BLANKETS... EATING OUR BEEF DOGS... AND TALKING ABOUT THE SPARK IN OUR LIVES THAT THIS WLS MADE FOR US... THE CHANGE THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR LIVES... BON SAID THAT JUST THE OTHER DAY SHE FINESHED TAKING OUT ALL OF THE "WRONG SIZES OUT OF HER CLOSET" AND EVERY ONE KNEW WHAT SHE MENT.... WE WILL NEVER BE THOSE SIZES AGAIN... WELL MELISSA, JANIE, RON, DONNA, SUSAN, LINDA, JUDITH, CANDY, JAMES, DEE, BRENDA, DEANNA, CHRISTINE, VERA, CHRISTI, BON AND ALL THE REST MADE A LARGE CIRCLE AROUND THE BON FIRE..... YES IT HAD VERA'S LOG IN IN BY THEN.... AND ONE BY ONE GAVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR.... AND ............................