QNE_p069

QC08182016

for breaking news visit www.qns.com AUGUST 18, 2016 • buzz • The QUENS CourieR 69 A Bittersweet, Memorable Reunion Victoria’s Secrets Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@ gmail.com Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION THE INVISIBLE WAY TO SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY STRAIGHTEN TEETH Third Generation Dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 The sun was blasting like an oven and my heart was bursting with love as I began the weekend with my late husband Stu’s annual “Yunis family reunion,” where my children were included. It was the gathering of the clan, 30 strong, at Mimi and Jim Broner’s new lakefront home in Lakeville, Connecticut. Even with a main house and guest house, my kids and Sarasota-based Jon and his family stayed across the road at the charming Interlaken Inn. It’s a yearround resort that offered a pool and tennis courts and a spa, only 2-1/2 hours from the city, but I just used it as a place to sleep. The “family” has grown with marriages, girlfriends and, in my little family, new babies. With Josh and Tracey’s addition of Hudson, 4, and Sloan, now 14 months old, and Jonah, 7, and Addy, 5, and Blake, 10, and Morgan, 7, and Jon and Hilary’s Jillian, 4 years old , a new generation is in place. It filled my heart to see them bond and swim their hearts out together. Just the sight of 4-year-old Hudson swimming, in his float arms, back and forth to the trampoline float, anchored 100 yards from the floating dock, then climbing the tight ladder to reach the top and jump endlessly with his cousins was remarkable to me. He was so fearless! The Broners had a huge trampoline float in the “no motor boats allowed lake,” a canoe, two kayaks, a paddle boat, and paddle boards with oars – yes, a real playland there for all our pleasure. And did I lap up every minute of my days with everyone on and in the lake. Most everyone is used to a pool and for many family members the gooky, stony, fish-filled lake was off-putting. But the heat forced everyone into the lake and it was hard to get them out, including me, for the multiple feasts Mimi had arranged. I love a lake because I grew up spending my summers at Lake Oscawana in Putnam County, and for me the crystal clear, calm waters with warm spots and cool are energizing for swimming. This weekend, I went around the lake by kayak. And then I pedaled my way around the lake with 7-year-old Jonah stretching his little thin legs to reach his pedals. He was so brave that he even took a kayak out by himself and navigated it around the lake, going past the float, paddling remarkably well until he got a little too far for our comfort zone. Tall, strong, loving Zac swam to Jonah and rescued him by pushing him to the shore. My Manhattan grandsons, the over 6-foot-tall “big” boys, Zac, Sam and Ben, were so loving, gentle, caring and tender with their small cousins, it warmed my heart. Whomever they finally marry – will those young women be lucky! To add to the fun of the weekend, Jim, our host, organized what he called the Lakeville Olympic relay races. He divided us up into two teams and created tasks, beginning with Jim and Harvey hitting a golf ball, then another team member running to the lake, another person on the paddle board passing to the swimmer at the float then swam back, then a runner to the kayaks where the kayaker had to go down to the next dock and race back to be met by a runner (Addy and Jillian), to Jonah and Hudson who had to do 25 jumping jacks and then run to the people collecting rocks and then the grand finale – the corn pokes toss! The winners got to be the first to eat the luscious lobsters, clams casino and juicy oysters. I got to take pictures of the participants as the team’s photographer. A fitting task! How hard it was to say goodbye, but memories were made forever! Share your family get-togethers, too. tweet me @vschneps The Yunis, Broner, Schneps, Easton, Aloni, and Peterson families gathered for a weekend together in Lakeville, Connecticut


QC08182016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above