Summer Picnic

Saturday was our annual family get together. I'm not sure why, but figuring out who is bringing what gets more complicated every year. Maybe it is because communication is too easy. Years ago it took a lot of effort to to coordinate with other people. It took phone calls and letters. It took effort. Someone had to be in charge to be the central hub of information.

Now, everyone is in charge. Emails fly in all directions and the result is no one knows what's going on. Below is my response to the other family members for the over twenty emails that preceded it:

"So, just to sum this up:
Mom's not going to bring deviled eggs, but Tina might- though she may or may not come. Either way, Karen would be glad to bring some potato salad... and Kaisa.
Kaisa may or may not bring her boyfriend
Steve and Denise will probably bring a fruit salad and some drinks, but not coffee.
Sandy wants to know if anyone wants coffee, because she'll bring some. She can also bring some water, if people would just say "Yes". Maybe some chips and munchies too?????
I'll do the usual hot dogs, hamburgers and buns. And I'll also bring the ketchup, mustard and relish, maybe onions too. And Laura can do a salad, but hopefully not a fruit salad because Steve and Denise might be bringing one.
Laura says "yes" to the water, and thinks coffee is "nice", while I think coffee is "fine", so it looks like the coffee is finally a "go"- as long as there's regular and decaf. And if Sandy's going to bring some coffee anyway, Steve may have some, but as ice coffee. Karen doesn't want any coffee regardless.
Mom's got tons of chips, so Sandy doesn't need to bring the chips she was planning on, but I guess the munchies would still be OK, even though Mom has some too.
I guess Mom also has some mustard and Steve's going to pick up some ketchup, so I'll leave mine at home, but still plan on bringing some relish (Although Laura now says she will bring one too, so we will either have two or none). I may still bring some onions.
Mom's got the salsa covered.
Mom's also going to bring paper goods, which hopefully includes cups for the drinks (other than for the coffee, which we're assuming Sandy's still bringing and will include cups). But we may need the other cups for the water that Sandy is also bringing... and the drinks Steve and Denise might be bringing.
Steve's also going to bring a pop-up, but hopefully someone else can bring extra misquote repellent, which I can bring, if I remember.

(Late Update: Laura's salad is out. Some kind of noodle slaw is in. And a cake. Steve and Denise are going to bring a leaf salad. Not sure what this does to the fruit salad.)

I think that covers it."

 This generated another seven more emails in response.