Just A Terrific Day

What a terrific, fun day!  We arrived at Universal Studios about 11:30, parked and paid (a king's ransom), then waited near the gate for nieces, nephew, and their families.  After a delay--computers malfunctioned, which brings modern life to a screeching halt, of course--we were delighted to meet up with Francine, Charlie, Aiden, Dillon, and Rowan; Carolyn, Finn, and Claire; and Steve and Dexter, with Steve's friend, Carla.  Carla actually works at the park, portraying Princess Fiona from the Shrek movies, and is a puppeteer, as well.  She graduated from Emerson, as Steve and Robyn did, and was a great addition to our group.
Went on rides, viewed others, attended shows, talked and laughed, and enjoyed watching the boys and girl as they bounced around happily with their cousins.  Yes, Universal Studios is fearfully overpriced,  overcrowded, and over-commercialized, and possibly, stands as evidence of the death of culture in America, but it was perfect, sunshiny summer day, and we were with family, and it was fine.
I had a very interesting conversation with Charlie, who is my brother, Frank's, son-in-law.  Charlie is on sabbatical from Holy Names University while he writes a biography of Harold Camping, who predicted that the end of the world would occur on May 21, 2011.  Unless I missed the event, it didn't happen; and Mr. C. then modified the prediction to October 21, 2011.  Nope, not then, either.  Now in his nineties, the Christian fundamentalist has since suffered a stroke and seems to be somewhat incapacitated, but according to Charlie, not to a huge extent. I can't wait until Charlie's book is published; I'll be first in line to buy a copy.
It was impossible to find a table big enough for our party of 13 to sit together for lunch, so we split up and gathered again after.  (Steve, Ellen, and I got Mexican; I was stunned that my can of Corona was $9.99.)  We continued our theme park day with pleasure, staying until almost 8:00.  Excitement ensued when little Dillon (6, I think), found a hundred dollar bill on the ground.  Francine asked Carla to contact the proper place to see if anyone reported the loss.  If not, I assume the lucky little boy gets to claim it.
Steve lives about fifteen minutes away, and invited all of us back to his place (Carolyn and her two beautiful offspring were staying over).  It's a compact and nicely laid out house in a pleasant neighborhood, just right for the family of three.  Robyn got home from work toting several bags of groceries and proceeded to cook us a wonderful dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, various sides, watermelon, and blueberries--delicious. Most of us ate in the nicely enclosed backyard and we talked and talked and laughed and had a marvelous time.  After some group portraits of the adults--it would have been impossible to corral the six high-spirited kiddies--taken by Carla, we parted.
I guess there are other extended families as bright and warm and giving as ours, but I've never come across them.