Why Your Next Vacation Should Be a Family Reunion

Hey y’all. Last week was a good one—one of those rare weeks where everything slows down a bit, and you get reminded of what actually matters. We had what I’d call an “informal family reunion”—not the big, t-shirt-matching, schedule-planned kind, but something more relaxed and probably more meaningful.

We decided to head back to Louisville, Mississippi—a small town where both sides of my family are from. It’s one of those places that holds memories in the dirt, and even though I don’t get there often, it always feels familiar. We figured it was time to get together on a happy occasion, instead of only showing up for weddings or funerals like folks tend to do. It’s too easy to fall into that pattern, and I think we were all craving something different.

So, me and my wife hit the road on Sunday. We stopped off in Jackson, Mississippi, to grab dinner with one of my uncles and his wife. It was a great way to ease into the week—just some catching up and a good meal before we drove the rest of the way into Louisville the next day.

We stayed at Lake Tiak-O’Khata, which is part campground, part hotel, part lake resort. They’ve got cabins, some water slides, and a laid-back vibe. It’s not fancy, but it’s exactly what you want when the goal is to relax and reconnect. It’s the kind of place where people hang out by the water with a cooler, a fishing pole, and not much of an agenda. Just the way I like it.

While we were at the lake, we spotted what we call a resort cat. My family’s got this running thing where we take photos of cats we see at resorts or vacation spots and send them to each other. It started a few years ago on a Caribbean trip, and now it’s a full-blown tradition. Found one lounging at Lake Tiak-O’Khata, so of course we snapped a pic and sent it around.

Once we got to Louisville, things really kicked off. My dad’s cousin offered to host everyone at his place—he lives on a nice little piece of land with a pond, and the whole thing felt like stepping into a country postcard. Holly grabbed a fishing pole, as did a bunch of folks, and everyone just hung out and enjoyed being outside.

We had dinner together, and while I wouldn’t quite call it a potluck, it had that feel. My cousin grilled the meat and provided most of the food, but other folks brought sides and desserts. Now, dessert is apparently where our family shines—we had four or five pies, easy. And the best part? One of them was an egg pie, something my great-grandmother used to bake. One of my cousins said he hadn’t tasted one since she passed over ten years ago. That kind of memory sneaks up on you and settles right in your chest.

There’s something powerful about food that brings you back to your roots—literally and emotionally.

The next night, we decided to round things out with a big dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. But this time, we invited everybody—my dad’s side, my mom’s side, cousins, aunts, uncles, folks who hadn’t seen each other in decades. Most of them didn’t even know each other, but everyone clicked right away. It was just one of those good vibes kind of nights.

We ended up taking over three or four big tables in the restaurant. And as luck would have it, one of my cousins had a birthday that day. So, out came the sombrero, and next thing you know, we’ve got 30 people singing Happy Birthday loud enough to shake the walls. Definitely made a scene—but the fun kind. That kind of memory sticks with you.

Honestly, sitting there with both sides of my family laughing, eating, and trading stories made me realize how special those moments are. I even said to my wife later, “Wouldn’t it be cool to do something like this every birthday?” Just a big excuse to get together, no pressure, no big plan—just family and food and time.

We also visited with my mom’s side of the family. She’s still got a sister and a brother who live in Louisville. I hadn’t seen them in a while—only briefly a couple years ago for a funeral—so spending actual time with them was a real gift. Just sitting and catching up, no hurry, no need for anything fancy. Those kinds of visits mean a lot more than we realize at the time.

One other thing—we brought a surge-protected court cable for my dad’s RV because he’d forgotten his. While picking it up, I got treated to a little scene out of a nature show—deer everywhere in his yard, just watching me like they were in charge. Snapped a picture. He’s practically running a wildlife preserve over there.

We drove back on Wednesday morning—super early, because I like traveling in the mornings, and I had some meetings in the afternoon I didn’t want to miss. Once we got home and settled back in, Thursday night rolled around, and we caught a showing of Fantastic Four with my son. Not gonna lie, it was fun to just sit and unwind with a bucket of popcorn.

Friday after work, me and Sam kicked back and watched a Bare Knuckle Boxing special on Netflix. First time I’ve seen it, and man—it’s wild. No gloves, just hand wraps, and the knockouts were intense. Honestly, with all the concussion and brain injury work we do at Shane Smith Law, I had mixed feelings watching it. Felt guilty, even. It looked way more dangerous than UFC or regular boxing. Still, we couldn’t look away.

Then Saturday rolled in, and UFC had an event in Dubai that aired during the day. It wasn’t even a pay-per-view, just free to watch, so that was nice. Another good one. So yeah—we had a solid combat sports weekend around here.

Also, on our way down to Jackson earlier in the week, we made our traditional stop at Buc-ee’s. If you’ve never been, it’s like the Disneyland of gas stations. We didn’t grab any snacks this time—I’m trying to watch what I eat with Dragon Con coming up—but it’s still fun to wander around. I usually go for their Philly cheesesteak burrito, but they didn’t have it out that morning. Probably for the best. We did pick up a little toy for Luna, our dog. She always makes out like a bandit when we stop there.

Looking back on the week, I feel grateful. Grateful for time with family, grateful for laughter and stories, and even for the tough stuff—like hauling a deer out of a pond—because it reminds you that life’s messy but full. We work hard every day, and weeks like this help recharge the batteries in a way nothing else can.

If there’s one takeaway? Don’t wait for a funeral to get the people you love in one room.