Family Reunion 2005
I'm back in North Platte following our Kurre family reunion which was held in Springfield, MO. We spent one day down in Branson and celebrated Mom and Dad's 58th wedding anniversary with a grand banquet. Since Bob and Arleen's four children have migrated all over the country it was nice to be together.
Our adventures during the reunion sparked at least two perplexing observations. My first observation came during our visit to the Bass Pro Shop. Springfield is the home of Base Pro company and an extremely large Bass Pro Shop complete with water fall, stuffed animals, shooting range a major fast food restaurant and nice sit down restaurant. (On my way back to NE I submitted myself to the purification rite required of someone who lives in Cabelas home state.) As we explored the store I posed the question to members of my family, "What does the fishing section of the store have that the hunting section doesn't?" (Fishing poles is not the answer.) The answer is video displays. At the end of nearly every isle in the fishing section of the story there was a video monitor playing a sales or instructional video. There were no video monitors in the hunting section. I'm intrigued to know what the store design experts know about store design and patrons that causes them to place video programs in the fishing section but not in the hunting section.
My second perplexing observation came as we continued to participate in one of America's favorite past times, shopping as entertainment. As we walked a Branson outlet mall a strange sign caught my eye. The sign read, "Bible Factory Outlet." On an intellectual level I understand the existence of a bible factory outlet. From a spiritual or theological perspective I find the existence of a Bible factory outlet strange. Factory outlets ordinarily imply cheeper merchandise, seconds or over stocked items that could not be sold at your main stream stores. So, if you buy a bible at the Bible Factory Outlet can you expect the fifth chapter of Genesis to be missing or is John's Gospel printed before Mark's? I didn't purchase a bible for fear Psalm 23:4 would be missing. The existence of a Bible Factory Outlet confirms that the bible is just one more commodity just like shoes, shirts, and tableware.
The reunion was an overwhelming success. We spent most of our time together talking, sharing stories and enjoying oneanother's company.