I'm not heavy...I'm his brother

Somewhere around 20 years or more ago--the facts are fuzzy at this point--my wife Kathy and I made the trip to New Hope (the west side of the Twin Cities metro) to visit my brother Clay and his wife Linda. I don't remember what we did or how long we stayed. It is probably a pretty safe bet that we probably played some board games and maybe watched a movie or two. We most likely did some shopping. These memories come to you from someone who can't remember if it is recycle week until I check in front of the neighbor's house to see if their tubs are at the curb.
Somehow...according to the (sub)urban legend...that innocent weekend spawned a three-day spectacle that includes non-stop games, food, laughs, teasing and possibly a modicum of alcohol. There are crock pots full of bun toppings (and only Steve's Affiliated buns from Lake Benton will do), pans of bars, ice cream pails of cookies, cake pans of cheesy potatoes, breakfast buffets...and I think there might be some fresh fruit. This delicious spread is always available, just in case we get weak from all the gaming.
I speak, of course, of Wilmes Family Board Game Weekend.
I'm not sure how it got to be where it is today...the 30 or more attendees and non-stop decadence. Clay claims Kathy and I just kept inviting more and more people each year without his permission, but I would lean more towards the irresistible pull of Clay's charm, serving as a beacon from our rural existence and guiding us to a suburban Nirvana. The natural magnetism, if you will, of his personality.
This, indubitably, is despite his email from earlier today claiming his fun this weekend will begin at about 2:00 on Sunday.
What a jokester!
As I mentioned last week, there is a bit of a twist this year. For anyone who has been reading this blog for awhile, you may remember our inadvertent family member, Meghan Wilmes. The short version: this poor young woman from Hugo, MN had the misfortune of having the same initials as me, and has been included in all the Wilmes family group emails over the past two years. She finally got through to us a couple of months ago that she is "not part of our family." She was very gracious about the fact she has been getting pie requests, holiday invitations and medical updates for longer than we care to know, because someone in our family (who also happens to have more than his share of charm) had my personal email address entered into his computer incorrectly. For those of you who haven't been reading this blog for long and would like the rest of this odd story, scroll down on this page. On the left side you will see blog archives. Click on "2009," then "November," and then "Meghan Who?"
A few weeks ago, I extended a formal invitation to Meghan to attend this year's festivities (I swear, this is the first time I've invited anyone extra...), not wanting to frighten her into thinking we were stalking her, but figuring we at least owed her a chance to meet the people she has been reading about...and she accepted. Tomorrow night (Friday) Meghan and a gentleman named Todd will be coming over for a meet and greet, and a bit of Marcello's pizza.
Meghan recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica, where she did some major volunteer mission work. I, of course, remember that one time I helped fill Santa bags in Lake Benton. We'll have plenty of stories to share about giving of ourselves on a global scale.
I would guess I'll have stories to share of the weekend in my blog next week...and maybe a few pictures. Clay and Linda have been empty-nesters for years. About 362-½ days of the year you can hear the soft ticking of the clock on the kitchen wall. But on a very special 2-½ days in late winter, it is the equivalent of Times Square on New Year's Eve. I have to believe they relish the break from the norm...
Now that I think of it, I don't ever remember seeing Clay after about 10:30 on those board game nights. Maybe his happiness cup gets so full he has to take a small break to keep from getting too giddy...
Maybe he slinks away to start planning for the next board game weekend...
Or, heaven forbid, he needs a break from our obtrusive, insensitive, boorish...
Nah...HE LOVES US!
SEE YA TOMORROW NIGHT, BROTHER!