Family Reunions

Family reunions. Funny name. Implies that one is reacquainting oneself with family. That may have been true for my daddy, but I had met 3 of the people there once, except for the people that came with me. It should have made me uncomfortable, being there with all those strangers, some of whom I would normally have not necessarily been drawn to. But there is a very strange thing, difficult to describe, that made me feel connected to those people. Being related by blood is a strong bond. I found myself looking at pictures of people I never had, and never would know, nodding my head, smiling, and all the while putting together the physical attributes and deciding who belonged to whom, and who was a spouse, etc. The funny thing was that the dominant attribute was the gorgeous laughing blue eyes, which my brother-in-law has, and he was picked out as a family member more than we were! He has been in the family for 25 years, so maybe there is some truth to the saying that the longer you live with someone, the more you look like them. I hope it's not always true, because my husband has a full beard...
The other funny thing was that all the family who was not there seemed to be represented nonetheless. So many of the 3rd cousins on various limbs of the family tree have strong resemblances. Maybe that's why I didn't feel so awkward there. And why I will go back next year if the opportunity arises.

Sharing a few Moments

I am taking time to clean my closets. Not literally. That's too much trouble and I don't have the time or the energy for that. No, I'm talking about my mental closets, and unfortunately, there's as much or more clutter than the real closet. But so much in there to take out, look at, and put away again. Occasionally, something to throw away, but not much... All those memories in there are what makes me me. Good, bad, or otherwise... As days go by, and I look through the closets, it gives me an opportunity to relive some really good things, too examine some tough things without so much pain, and to reorder the things that are important. Since the day when I was 26 and heard the words that I never expected to hear, "You have cancer" my life changed. In that instant, it became crystal clear that priorities needed to be examined, and so I did. My family is first and foremost, way before me. I can't think of a thing that will ever change that.