Keepper Reunion 2010

OK Keeppers, it's time to get together, this time down on the FARM! Teresa Keepper Maple has reserved the date of July 31. Stay tuned...more to come. Send an email to Teresa (tre9@comcast.net) to let her know about your plans. Below is the information that Teresa has provided.

"We have identified a hotel located off of 15 minutes from the Keepper farm. Contact me and I will give you details.

"We will need names and addresses in the future for mailings.

"Paula has suggested reunion t-shirts...please provide interest and feedback.

"I also just received word from Paula that Howard has given his blessing to have an outdoor gathering at the farm as well. We are proposing that be on Sunday following the 'greeting' and meal on Saturday.

"At the farm--we are planning to have a hayride to and from the Montgomery church (weather permitting) and, maybe, ice cream and soft drinks...just some good old fashioned fun. Please feel free to make suggestions...that sounds like a good 'Keepper' reunion t-shirt day to me.

"Also, feel free to jump-in on discussions about the logistics. For example, we will have to have porta potties and a 'clean up' crew--we cannot put any burden on Howard or any of his family.

"I am very pleased with how this is coming to together--no 'hair-puller', yet.

"And, so-o-o-o excited about finally bringing the Keepper extended family together.

Paula, Kay, Holly, and Michael and I comprise the downstate committee. Please feel free to converse and share your ideas and input with any one of them."

Lindsay A. Scattergood is engaged to Kevin H. Keepper

On New Years Eve day I drove Lindsay to T. Ashwell's to "get champagne" for New Years Eve. It was about 4PM and the waitstaff was bustling around and setting-up for the night ahead, not fully aware of mine and Lindsay's presence. We wandered into the front room by the piano bar and I began to recite our first conversation we had at this very spot some two and a half years ago. She laughed and played along and I (maybe not so suavely) brought the conversation to the present moment. Then telling her I had a question I have been waiting to ask I dropped to one knee and proposed in a "reasonable" manner. She lit up, said yes, and we are now engaged to be married in the late summer of 2011 (more details to come).

On New Years Eve (some twenty minutes later) my parents joined Lindsay, her family and me at her cottage in Sister Bay. We celebrated with a champagne toast and my dad captured the picture posted here. Also during this toast, Ali, Donna, Kirk, my dad and my mom recounted their stories about how I had let each in on the plot the days before I proposed. Luckily for me, my dad stayed cool and did not spread the news to too many people before the 31st. Also, and even luckier for me, Ali held her breath when she stumbled across the white box the night before and Donna had the same reserve.

Also on New Years Eve I suggested that we could let those at the house party we first attended enjoy their celebration and not steal the thunder. Donna, like a mother can, completely ignored this request and pulled Lindsay across to the first person in living room and showed-off her hand. The rest of the night we felt like celebrities and were privy to some hilarious tales of engagement and plenty of unsolicited (but much appreciated) advice.

On New Years Day both Lindsay and I started making phone calls to immediate family to share the good news. We were both welcomed to each others family and this is why I am writing this post now. I would like to introduce (or reintroduce for those who have met her) my bride-to-be and love, Miss Lindsay A. Scattergood.