Crabbing with Uncle Ralph

No matter what is going on in the world, I always know where I was or where I will be on the last Saturday in June - my family reunion. My Uncle Richie and Aunt Kathy have a house on Samish Island and every year they host the reunion. I grew up in North Dakota and I can remember sitting in the backseat for what felt like years on the drive to Washington State. When we finally arrived, it was always the same welcome. Kisses and hugs from all the aunts, and crabbing with Uncle Ralph. Uncle Ralph was the most incredible man I've ever met. He grew up in a tiny farming town in North Dakota, served in the Navy, and eventually settled with his wife on Whidbey Island. I could write books about my Uncle Ralph but the reason I bring him up now is because Uncle Ralph loved to go crabbing. And at every family reunion we'd all go crabbing in the morning and enjoy them in the afternoon. My uncle passed in 2007 but the tradition survives. Now his son Larry tends to the crab pots, but he's also added his own flavor (so to speak). Larry loves to go shrimping so now we have pots of fresh shrimp and crab to enjoy with the family. As the family grows each year and the children get older, it's fun to relive my memories of crabbing with Uncle Ralph with the young cousins. I look forward to taking my boys out early in the morning and teaching them the importance of avoiding the game warden *wink*