We started out with a plan to do the reunion in Texas in the fall but it got complicated and Mom was ok with flying, so we did a left turn. Todd arranged a week in Martha’s Vineyard from September 7th to the 15th (The first week off season). Allie and Brandon helped with their intimate knowledge of Martha’s Vineyard. There were 29 people, 25 Eckles/Sharps, 1 Juers (Casey’s Brother), 1 fiancee and 2 girl friends. We had two houses in Oak Bluff. A main house with nine bedrooms for everyone staying the week and a smaller house for the weekenders.
Everyone had to take a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Mostly people left their cars on the mainland but Todd, Brandon and Ryan took the car ferry. Three cars across 29 people was a challenge. Fortunately, we could walk to a lot of things.
The main house was spacious with six bedrooms and a great room with kitchen, dinning room and family room. There was also a TV room. The ressessed part of the house was actually an attached apartment with three bedrooms.
There was a big open park in front of the house with an ocean view
Ryan interrupted his reunion to take a national welding certification test- which, of course he passed and we celebrated!
Ocean view from the porch which got a lot of use
Schedule
Sunday - Restaurant for dinner
Monday - Calendar and Swag bag - Mark Dinner - Spaghetti
Tuesday - Todd Dinner - 5 Course Meal
Wednesday - Mahjong(Casey) - Chip Dinner - Pizza - Jewelry(Chip)
Thursday - Fishing (Jeff) - Jeff/Mike Dinner - Gourmet Meal with Fish
Friday - Nails(Camila) - Kurt Fish Tacos - MK Birthday with Book Exchange
Saturday -Art(Colleen) - Clam bake(Todd) - Wine tasting(Jackie) - Photos(Brandon)
Sunday - Leftovers
Monday - Checkout
Top row (L to R)
Rachel, Will, Dana, Kurt, Colleen, Chip, Todd, Jeff, Rebecca, Mark, Lauren, Uncle Dave, Mike, Ryan and Camila.
Middle Row (L to R) Jackie, Mike, Casey, Alex, Nick, Luke,
Botton Row (L to R) Matthew, Mary Kate, Reine, Alicia, Brandon, Jess and Allie
Dave Juers and Casey Eckles, Brother and sister
Chip’s Family: Top (L to R) Matthew, Chip and Ryan
Bottom (L to R) Mary Kate, Colleen and Camila
Mark’s Family: Top (L to R) Luck and Nick
Bottom (L to R) Jess, Alecia, Jackie and Mark
Jeff’s Family: Top to Bottom: Alex, Mike, Jeff and Reine.
Kurt’s Family: Top (L to R) Kurt, Will and Janelle
Bottom (L to R) Dana and Rachel
Rebecca and Mike: Unfortunately, Garrison and Amie, and Maddie and Ethan were not able to attend
Todd’s Family: (L to R) Brandon, Allie, Lauren and Todd
Classic girl cousin photo (L to R) Rachel, Lauren and Mary Kate
Classic lineup by height (It has changed a lot over the years) Rachel, Mike, Alex, Nick, Allie, Mary Kate, Lauren, Luke, Will, Ryan, Matthew, Mike Sharp instead of Garrison and Brandon
Engaged: Brandon and Allie with her parents who own a house on Martha’s Vineyard
New Couple: Luke and Jess
Fun picture from the Farmers Market
New Couple: Will and Janelle
Gift bag from Jackie and Todd as well as Martha’s Vineyard Schedule and Guide from Allie and Todd
Kurt getting apple fritters and donuts at Back Door Donuts - We had them most mornings - I don’t want to see another and apple fritter until next reunion
Preparing Todd’s five course meal
Tiny gingerbread house at the MV Campground
Ryan found a perfect access to the beach for Mom and I. We had a great time on beach watching the waves,feeling the breeze and the sun
Jaws was filmed on MV and it was the 50th anniversary of the film release, so Ryan and Jeff got
T-shirts
Playing Mahjong with Gram
It was Mary Kate’s birthday on September 12th during the reunion and Rebecca and Todd had close birthdays. Mary Kate wanted a book exchange. It was fun to hear everyone introduce their book and do an exchange
Most of the OOG’s (Original Older Generation) with Gram
Mary Kate Todd and Rebecca with Birthday cake. It was half carrot cake and half red velvet,
Gram gave a heartfelt speech after the wine tasting that brought tears to most of us-bottomline: you’re all here because of me.
We visited a lot of galleries and Colleen liked the weird sculptures
We had to give her a group hug after her speech to show our appreciation
Todd catered a Clam Bake with lobster and a lot of the YG’s (Younger Generation) needed help with their first lobster. Jackie did wine tasting and wine facts.
Colleen led an art project making zig-zag books using photos of current and past reunions.
Camila brought nail polish supplies and the
ladies had fun as well as some guys!
Zig-zag books
Hanging out at Nancy’s close to the harbour.
Back to the beach on morning of the last day with with Colleen, Ryan, Camila, Mary Kate and Matthew - We had the beach to ourselves - Ryan and Camila brought lunch
Jeff and Colleen bought horseshoe crab ceramics
Typical MV
Brandon and Luke
Lauren and Reine
Rachel and Kurt
Camila and Mary Kate
Todd and Lauren
Brandon and Allie
Gram and Marak
Jeff and Matthew
Dana and Colleen
Kurt and Chip
Reine and Mike
One threesome - Todd, Mark and Chip on the world’s lowest, softest couch