Our family reunion is going to have much more meaning for me this year than it ever has before. Since my Uncle Randy organized the first reunion back in July 1983 in McBee, S.C., we try to get together every two or three years. But, lately, it's been hard getting everyone together. As my uncles and aunts grow older, they no longer want to fly, so far-off destinations are out. Then there are those who want to fly and don't want to drive. And, of course, with gas prices the way they are these days well, you get the idea.

Originally, this year's reunion was supposed to be a dinner/dance at the Marriott, with a family picnic following the next day. But, because of a lack of response from out-of-state relatives, we canceled those plans. My brothers and their wives and my husband and I, however, decided that at least the picnic would go on. My eight siblings — six brothers and two sisters — and our families alone are more than 50 people. Most of them live in Connecticut so we are preparing the cookout. What's going to be so good about this family reunion is that a few weeks ago I found my nephew who I've been hoping to find for years. No, this is not a soap opera, though it may sound like one.

Because of family circumstances, I've tried with no success to meet him. I've only seen a baby picture of him and didn't know what he looked like as an adult. Then, only recently, I learned he had been stationed in Iraq, so I watched the news and read the newspapers with

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more intensity. So many soldiers have lost their lives in this war.

I prayed for him to be safe, not knowing if he was dead or alive, and I only knew his first name, since his last name had been changed. To my surprise, I was visiting relatives one day when they told me he was there, too. What a reunion we had. For the first time, I could hug this 21-year-old man and talk to him and tell him who I was. He told me that this was the best day in his life, finding out that he has family.

He explained he'd returned from his service in Iraq with an honorable discharge and recently had been in a car accident that had put him in a coma for two days. Since our meeting, he has been reunited with his father. Now, I'm looking forward to my nephew meeting the rest of the family — all 50 of us. The looks on their faces will be a real Kodak moment. I have my camera ready. Marva Hamilton is the librarian at the Connecticut Post. She can be reached at mhamilton@ctpost.com.