served as an excuse for

[user_gary]

The core of Pop's happiness was his family. Almost any event served as an excuse for a reunion with all our uncle and aunts and cousins. Such laughter and jokes and sheer loving exuberance -- and all sparked by mother and father.

Could anyone explain the highlighted words?

[Tdol]

1 A small event could be used as a reason for a reunion
2 Loving in an outgoing energetic way