Saturday: Emporia, KS

I'll try to be brief in case our internet connection is lost (again). I'll post photos when I can. Yet another day with heat pressing upon the landscape and flattening everyone in it.

The Albin family reunion began with a cemetery tour, which we missed because we couldn't find the cemetery. Actually, we did find TWO cemeteries but neither was the right one. Here is a Virgin Mary looking a bit wistful at the Strong Township Cemetery 15 miles from Emporia.

At 9 AM we met about 15 Albin relatives at the Emporia library for a lecture by cousin Dorothea, shown below looking at a Bible belonging to an Albin ancestor, while cousin Lori looks on. (This is my mother's mother's family, by the way.)

We found a great little coffee shop in the recently restored Granada Theater- Emporia is attempting a downtown renaissance but some blocks need more help than others. Most people seem to prefer malls though I don't know why. Well, on a 100-degree day I DO know why.

We chatted with family during the ice cream social at a local Albin home. Some of the group are well traveled; others just hang around the Midwest. They all seemed pleased that a member of the Vora Albin line showed up. My Uncle Jack used to attend these reunions and some of the "regulars" remember him.

OK, the smoke alarm just chirped again. It does that at least once a night just to give my heart practice stopping and starting again. I don't like roughing it. I like a nice comfy hotel with reliable amenities and a smoke alarm that was not manufactured by the Marquis de Sade.

Tonight the sky turned red after dinner - John captured it with his camera above our hotel. I, on the other hand, ran inside squealing like a girl when I saw lightning.

Time for sleep. Early day tomorrow, gotta find a laundromat and attend the reunion dinner at noon. Nighty night!

P.S. - I've been too tired to practice my Serbian. Izvinite, Ivanka!