The Colletts and McKays had a new experience Saturday at their yearly family reunion. It rained! For the first time in 101 years. Saturday was the 102nd reunion and followed a period of rainy, muggy weather.

Nonetheless, the picnic reunion was held, on the Collett-McKay picnic grounds on Gurneyville Rd. All signs indicated rain Saturday, but that had happened before and rain had failed to fall. This time it did, right after long tables were laden with all kinds of foods, and plates were filled. The thick leaves of the maple trees above the picnic tables held off the rain for a while, then the heavens opened.

Some skurried to their cars with their plates. The table with Collett-McKay memorabilia was quickly covered with plastic. Steam rose from the fire under the big iron coffee pot (it was still full of coffee). Of course the youngsters enjoyed the excitement, even getting wet. Fortunately there were no electrical high jinks and no wind.

But the skies did eventually clear. Surprisingly, much of the food was not hurt, but the mud and wet drove the picnickers elsewhere to finish dinner.

It was then that another problem presented itself. The cars were stuck in the mud. That took some doing to get them out. Young men, barefooted, pushed and pulled, then some tractors finished the work.

Thus, another tradition of the Collett-McKay reunion has been broken. No one knows how (a small number compared with past reunions) registered but many failed to do so. Perhaps at next year's reunion, they will register for this one.

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