TORCH REUNION IN THE OBX ! ! !

Winter of 2007 - WE HAD A THOUGHT - bring Torch Keys to the OBX.

Spring of 2008 - WE HAD A PLAN - let's all get together on the OBX in October.

Summer of 2008 - WE FINALIZED THE PLAN - everyone who's anyone, be there or be square, OBX Moore's house, Fat Cat, noon, 10/4.

October 4, 2008 - WE EXECUTED THE PLAN - Torch Key friends starting arriving at Fat Cat, our oceanfront home in Carova on the Outer Banks. And the fun began . . . . .

Eddie and I always wanted to share our vacation home with our Torch Key friends and it was finally coming to fruition! As we sat on the front porch, we could see our friends car's driving down the beach, earnestly looking for the MP 15 sign, the spot where they have to 4-wheel over the sand dune to get to our house and a week of leisure. Some of us hadn't seen each other since April or May so this was a welcome reunion. We were ready, Lasagna, Salad and Garlic Bread in the oven, cheers waiting to be had at the bar, and welcome arms for our friends.

Groups pics of the "ladies" and "gents" !

Each couple got to choose their bedroom on a first come, first pick basis. Carl and Valerie with their friend Pete, got the prize for being the first ones to arrive. They came in loaded with goodies that they purchased on the way from upstate New York. Carl couldn't get over the "4-wheeling" they had to do to get to our house! Floyd and Maggie from Michigan were next and we met them at the shopping center since they didn't have 4-wheel drive. Joan came by way of New Jersey and arrived later in the day after taking a wrong turn and going all the way down to Avon - a good 100 miles round trip - out of her way. She was ready for a cocktail when she arrived! The house was filling up by evening with the balance of our friends arriving the next day. Frank and Linda arrived from Pittsburgh bringing all their "goodies" that us Pittsburghers like - fried cabbage, peroghies, nut roll, poppy seed roll, cookies - she wants us all to be fat! Mike and Linda had left Lake Michigan on their annual migration toward the Keys making us one of their stops. Their mission, which Mike gladly accepted, was to stop at Saul's BBQ and pick up dinner for Monday night. And a good job of it they did! Roger and Terese caravaned with Rit and Jennifer from the Keys stopping along the way up to sight see. Finally, bringing up the rear arriving midweek was Cheryl and Bill, heading up to Pittsburgh from Florida.

Week was fabulous - just what Eddie and I hoped for: Company was wonderful, weather mostly cooperated as we had sunny, warm days and windy, chilly n'oreaster days. Our friends experienced the great Atlantic at it's best as well as when it was angry - we walked the beach, some of us watched the sunrises and all of us watched the gorgeous sunsets, went shopping, fished in the surf, ate raw oysters, fried oysters, Roger's famous Oyster Stew, Valerie's hot, hot, delicious Chili, 2 bushels of steamed Blue Crabs, Steamed Shrimp, BBQ, had a surprise birthday cake (Terese's delicious bread pudding) for Linda, Perogies, Nut Roll, Fried Cabbage, we all scream for Ice Cream, played Poker, Rummy Cube, Sequence, Dominoes, laughed at stories and jokes, Eddie played Spider, relaxed and tanned by the pool, hot tubbed, drank coffee, coffee and more coffee AND Cain and Jake chased each other around the house carrying on like two little pups. Could it get any better than that?

We are hoping everyone had as much fun as Eddie and I did AND hope we can all get together once again in a few years to have our 2nd Keys Reunion in the OBX.

Summer of 2009 - WE HAVE A THOUGHT . . . .