My family will celebrate our 40th annual reunion this year. Now that my kids are attending, I'm seeing the tradition's full impact.

Courtesy of Lindsay Karp

For as long as I can remember, we spent the Saturday before Father's Day with our extended family nearby at my cousin's home outside Philadelphia, swimming, dancing to live music, and immersing ourselves in the company of our cousins. Some traveled from as far as California, and we'd mingle with our relatives from 2 p.m. until dusk. It was magical — and yet so ordinary in my youthful mind.