Hank grew up in Harrisburg, PA and has many family members here. We visit nearly every year and when we do, we stay at the home of his step-aunt, Jean Rodriguez, in Mechanicsburg, PA. We arrived on the day of her 90th birthday and celebrated with her extended family at nearby Black ‘n Blue Restaurant. Angie took a lot of great pictures at the happy event.

Jean’s late husband Ralph (Ponch), was the brother of Hank’s late step-father, Alfonso. Ralph and Jean were like surrogate parents to Hank during some turbulent high school years. They took Hank and his brothers on their family vacations and provided a stabilizing influence on Hank’s nuclear family. Jean was also the driving force in the initiation of Nettie’s family reunions which have been going on for 32 years. Over the years we have grown quite close to Jean’s children and grandchildren. They have adopted us into their family and we love spending time with them.

Jean’s grandson, Trevor, used to accompany Hank, Jonathan and Madeline to Hershey Park when the kids were all in elementary school. Trevor just bought his first home near his parents and brother in Perry County, where his father’s family has lived for generations.

Hank’s late brother’s daughter, Heather, who is also Hank’s god-daughter, hosted us for lunch prepared by her husband, Rabiou, who is from Niger. He made a delicious leg of lamb with couscous and cooked cabbage. The meat fell off the bone and melted in your mouth. Charlie got a few pieces and instantly became a huge fan of Rabiou’s cooking. They sent us home with a huge tray of leftovers for us to share with Jean.

We also had a fun dinner with Hank’s brother, Joe, and his wife, Jen, and Hank’s nephew, Ralph, who is like a younger brother to Hank. None of them had attended the reunion this year, so we filled them in on all that news, in addition to catching up with each other on all the news since our visit last year. There were lots of laughs and hugs all around.