Families, after all, are forever.

Leroy patiently took photos all through our weekend in Iowa City. Here, James & I are taking a break before we hit Prairie Light Bookstore downtown on Sunday. So this is the last photo he took that weekend.

Here's one, however, that I took on the first afternoon of the Iowa vist, featuring James Hayes and James Searle. My sister Mary can be seen in lower left. I like this photo of both guys. My son has that amiable but impatient look on his face that I believe he inherited from me.

So the family of Peggy Hayes (mother of me and sisterMary) had a wonderful weekend in Iowa City, for the Hayes Family Reunion. Pictured above from left: Leroy (Peggy's son-in-law), Naomi Schedl (friend and mother-in-law of my sister Mary), Mary, and Peggy's grandson James H.S. Searle, who was able to fly in from Pittsburgh for the event.

Here's a long fuzzy shot in dappled light from the fountain area at my cousin Jim's, out to the back yard and the screened in porch at the back of his home in Iowa City. Every five years he hosts his relatives for a weekend of activities. This year, there were 100 adults and 11 children. My cousin Jim is the eldest living cousin named James, and is in fact the son of my uncle James C. Hayes. I suspect James Hayes from Ireland was named for one of those two, while my son James is named for my father, also James.

Here's the fountain with the three bronze figures, created by James Hayes from Ireland, for his uncle, my cousin, Jim Hayes, the attorney, our host.

It was amazing to sit down and talk with cousins whose blogs I read regularly and whom I've not seen in some time. Here: James Hayes, his niece Emily Wilson, and her mother (his sister) Annie Hayes Wilson. Annie and I share the same name and the same birthday. Emily writes the family blog most of the time. She's just finished her freshman year at McGill University.

Can identify most: James, Mary Siobhan, me, Annie, cousin Rosemary, Emily, Kathleen's grandson Sam, cousin Kathleen, and one of the Biderman boys (John or Mike, not sure) with his new wife. When I was growing up, I spent a good deal of time with cousins Kathleen and Rosie on the farm in Forest City.

Another photo, here with James, my sister Mary, me, Sam and my cousin Margi Newman Crawford.

Me and the cousin I spend most time talking to or writing to, the inimitable Ann Newman.

And now -- to catch up with my life -- we switch to the ASA first anniversary party that preceded the family reunion. Here, ASA research associate Lauren Graf and Professor Herbert Blau, in the office.

It was 90 degrees with no shade that day. Rumpled as I look, I like this photo because it shows my friend and colleague, Steffan Martell.

Here's Lauren posing for the head shot we needed for the ASA website.

My close friend and former colleague, Al Wilson, was able to join us. He has given me so much good advice this past year.

Fresh fruits -- cherries, blueberries, grapes, strawberries -- accompanied cheese, pastrami and crackers, lemon drop cookies and two bite brownies, pinot grigot or mineral water.

A look at the crowd in the heat. Foreground, back to us, is Shirish Munshi, ASA's current UW intern.

And they just kept eating and talking even though the heat rose steadily until we finished at 6pm! I'll do a separate post on the new photographs hanging in the office, shot by Weston Jandacka. The installation was much admired by all guests.

And now back in time even further, to May. I inadvertently erased a former post of this joyous event, for which ASA was one of the sponsors. Here are Kate Butt and myself early in the 5k walk for breast cancer organized by Penny Kellam, and titled "Inspiring Hope 2010."

And here we are at the end of the walk. I'm slowed down quite a bit by my knee, so we were last walkers in. But we finished! I am thrilled that I actually did two 3 Day Walks in the past, and will continue to support the team in any way I can. Proceeds from this event support this year's Kindred Spirits team.

I have ended up blogging about three types of families. The first is where I come from and who I am related to. The second is the family of supporters and colleagues formed during my career, including those who have stepped up for ASA. And the third is the family of Kindred Spirits, of which I still consider myself a part. Families, after all, are forever.