Fifty years ago a band of brothers, uncles and assorted sons and nephews converged on a northern minnesota lake for a week of comeraderie and fishing.  It was the start of what was to become a beloved tradition that to this day is still held dearly in the hearts of each and every member of my family: the Clan Hudson.

In those days, 1963 to be exact, the women had their own gathering independent of the men.  I guess a week of fishing and  roughing it wasn't something they found inviting.  So we all settled in for some womanly bonding.  since I was but a youngster at the time, my recollections on what we actually did that week are a bit blurry.

I recall picnicing and spending lots of time enjoying being with  grandmother, the aunts and of course the cousins. To this day those connections still run deep and strong for all of us.

Yes for us it was a week of female folly excepting my cousin, Deano, who was deemed too young to spend the week away from his mom and roughing it with the men.  And so he was the lone male in a sea of femininity.

Perhaps the most memorable recollection for all of us was the day the traveling salesman knocked upon the door asking for the man of the house.  Well of course my family being the kind to never let pass an opportunity such as was presented, summoned little Deano to the door to confront the baffled man. 

Most likely that incident remained etched in his mind indelibly years later when he reflected on a long and successful sales career.

Two years later the Hudson women joined the men at a charming island resort on Lake Kabetogema in northern Minnesota for the first full family gathering.  The "Island" as it was to affectionately become known to us all, will forever be held dear to each one of my family members.  

Through the years, many have not missed attending the reunion and we all will happily celebrate the 50th gathering this year.
Precious memories have been created at every biannual gathering since then and that will continue.  Now the women fish as heartily as the men, sometimes out-fishing them in fact by week's end.  We will all once again converge upon Gull Lake in a couple weeks for yet another week together.  

Some family members are no longer with us yet their spirits will certainly be there.  One need only to sit contemplatively by the lake to feel their presence and their loving arms wrapped around us all. 

I can hardly wait.

My only thought is this:  will the ice be off the lake yet? I guess one can only hope!