The 65th Annual Roustio Family Reunion is in the books. This Sunday past nearly 90 folks gathered in the hall at Shiloh Community Park near O'Fallon, Illinois. The food was terrific and the sharing conversations were more fun and enlightening; mostly about our family's history and the way each present was connected. Some may have found out for the first time that the original spelling of the name, 'Roustio,' was 'Rousteau.' This name is of French origin, not Italian as many believe. The attendance was doubled from a year ago and our goal next year is to surpass that century mark; we will be offering some interesting incentives via email and telephone calls, which will help meet that objective.
I learned of two family members who chose not to attend the family reunion because someone offended them in the past and they remain 'mad' thus they stay away. This type of behavior never surprises me but always saddens me. It would seem that most families have some fractured relationship issues. Most often this situation require sacrifice and as Dr. Phil says, "Needs a hero." A 'hero' to heal the hurt. Sometimes the individual who may have offended the person 'staying away' does not even know they said or did some thing to cause the anger; that's rather pitiful and funny.
In all cases, the person who opts to discontinue the family-relationship usually hurts only those who care about him-or-her, the others don't notice the absence. Oh, before I close this thought, I did miss cousins Dee Dee Elbe and Dick Roustio, they did not stay away because they are mad...they both died... I really missed them.
I have noticed that the best way to travel life's journey is ego-light.
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