Colonial New Year

To celebrate 2007, the Taylor’s headed back to the 1700’s—pre-Revolutionary War Colonial Williamsburg to be precise. My Aunt Barb and Uncle Larry were in charge of our third family reunion and they packed a ton of fun activities into our 1.5-day gathering. Our first planned event was on Saturday evening: the illumination of the town square. A group of soldiers marched around playing music and lighting torches outside each building as a narrator explained each building’s significance. Afterwards, a regiment of hungry Taylors walked to Chowning Tavern for a traditional colonial meal. There were obviously not many vegetarians in the 1700’s but Katie and I did find some great corn chowder and a crock of cheese on the menu (what is not to love about a whole pot of cheese?!) Everyone else had spareribs that were apparently to die for. The waitress stayed in character throughout the meal and taught us 3 different dice games to play with the baskets of peanuts that were on each table. Finally, in an event that you probably had to see to believe, we boarded a bus back to our cars and actually started a “Found a Peanut” sing-a-long. Taylors, yeah we’re different:-)

We spent New Year’s Eve morning walking around Williamsburg and touring the governor’s palace. Lunch found us as the King’s Arms Tavern trying more tasty colonial food, including peanut soup, which was incredible (like the inside of a Reese’s Peanut butter cup!) The surprise of Williamsburg was that you could rent traditional costumes (adults, not just kids) and wear them around the park. Let’s just say that some people pulled off the look better than others. (I took pictures of the fashion don’ts but have resolved to be less mean this year, so think I better not post them)

We rang in the New Year with a progressive dinner, moving between our 3 condos as the evening went along.
Course One: appetizers at “The New Generation” condo. Appetizers also included a rousing game of Taylor Family Trivia (ie. Q: Which two Taylor Family Members used to move the furniture out of the family room when their parents were away so they would have more room to sumo wrestle? A: me and Katie:-)) The funniest moments came when certain parents didn't know about things that certain children had done:-0


Course Two: salad at the middle generation’s condo.











Course 3: Pasta, dessert and champagne at the, let’s just say, most mature Taylor condo.

The evening also included two more sing-a-longs (no joke), presents, pictures and a great fireworks display courtesy of First Night Williamsburg.

I am still in the phase of my readjustment from Europe where I enjoy asking myself what the Europeans I know would think about certain brash displays of Americana, old and new. I myself wondered whether Williamsburg might be Americana run amok. I can honestly say, though, that the park is tremendously well done and is something for one and all to see!

As 2007 begins, I feel blessed that I have such a wonderfully close family and wish you a happy and healthy New Year!