Orion/Marian
The people, places, and questionable career choices that started it all.
The people, places, and questionable career choices that started it all.
Mother and Dad weren't originally from this town, but they eventually called it home. Apparently, you can take the people out of their hometown, but you can't take the hometown out of the people.
What is Bloomington?
Put these four Thanksgiving events in their traditional order. Get it right and you might earn the right to sit closest to the gravy.
What is
(1) Turkey Trot, (2) Starbucks, (3) Football Game, then (4) Dinner?
This person somehow earned six degrees in four years at the University of Illinois. Either an academic overachiever or someone who never learned how to leave campus.
Who is Matt Cheney?
These sports teams tormented the Cheney boys throughout their childhood. Years of heartbreak, questionable coaching decisions, and the stubborn belief that next season will be different.
Who are the Cubs and Bears?
This large public park sits behind the Bloomington house and almost became another housing development. Thankfully, not every childhood memory was destined to become a subdivision.
What is Ewing Park?
Grandpa spent most of his working life at this company. He may not have had a corner office, but he certainly put in the hours.
What was General Telephone........
GEE.......No GTE
These two brave—or seriously underdressed—souls participated in one of Bloomington's first Turkey Trots, running in subfreezing temperatures without coats, wearing clogs and flannel shirts. Because proper running gear was apparently optional.
Who are Matt & John?
These five ladies met their future husbands in college. Proof that higher education can lead to lifelong love—and possibly a lifetime of doing someone else's laundry.
Who are Cathryn, Maddie, Emily, Jen and Suzy
This favorite pizza joint in Champaign was often the first stop before studying. Because nothing improves academic performance like a full stomach and a little procrastination.
What is Garcias.
Aunt Pam's first car had this very unusual feature. Most people remember their first car for its color or its smell; hers apparently came with a story of its own.
What is push button transmission?
This was Grandma's middle name. A simple question, unless the family has collectively forgotten its own family tree.
What is Olivia?
This is the one Thanksgiving food Aunt Pam refuses to eat. In a holiday built around eating everything in sight, she has drawn the
What are Cranberries
This person is pursuing a master's degree at Harvard Divinity School and leads a group focused on psychedelics. Somewhere, the family reunion small talk just got a lot more interesting.
Who is Emily Alice Marie
Mom and Dad regularly participated in this monthly activity with other couples, sitting around tables until well past midnight. Was it a social gathering, a competition, or simply an elaborate excuse to stay out late?
What is Bridge, while consuming cocktails?
This person was pregnant, living in Mexico, and running from a cartel at the time. Because apparently, an ordinary pregnancy just wasn't dramatic enough for this family.
Who is Emily Alice Marie?
Later in life, this employer kept Mom's brain sharp by challenging her math skills. Proof that retirement wasn't the only alternative to doing arithmetic.
What was H&R Block?
This movie is traditionally watched over Thanksgiving weekend and unofficially signals the start of Christmas. The turkey isn't even cold yet, and someone is already jingling all the way.
What is Christmas Vacation?
This is the only family member with a CPA. Which means everyone else has someone to blame when the tax bill arrives.
Who is Emily Axt?
Seven generations of the family have had some version of this first name. At this point, calling it out at Thanksgiving must sound like a family-wide roll call.
Who is Will?
Early in their marriage, Mom and Dad lived near this Marine Corps base. Semper Fi—and apparently, newlywed life.
TBD