“The thing about family disasters is that you never have to wait long before the next one puts the previous one into perspective.” — Robert Brault
It’s All about Love
I was listening to a woman tell a group of us what a wonderful family gathering she had just come from, and was beginning to inwardly moan at yet another “perfect family” story when she added an addendum to her first words.
“Of course the fun was in spite of the fact that everyone in our family has big personalities. It only took an hour or two before the tensions erupted.”
In a nut shell, she had just described my family, which has been fractured and thrown to the four winds time and time again. But we’re family. And that means something — even if I’m not always sure what it means.
I’m the matriarch of five children and five spouse-in-laws; 15 grandchildren plus two more by marriage, plus seven or so grand-spouse-in-laws or partners, plus several non-related young people I claim as grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren plus two more by marriage.
I’m not even going to count the numbers, because what counts is that each and every one is family, and family matters. Not a single one of them – I dare say not even the great-grandchildren — is perfect. And they all have big personalities — and in those two things I can truthfully say they all take after me.
I feel like the luckiest, if at times the most frustrated, person in the world.
Bean’s Pat: So you just write the book http://tinyurl.com/ltyqwl6 As one who is struggling with the third rewrite of “Travels with Maggie,” this tickled my funny bone. Writing is darn hard work — even if you love doing it and consider it as necessary as breathing.
Thanks for the recognition, Pat! So glad you enjoyed the post . . .
You’re welcome Simon.
writing is such hard work I’m finding it takes a while, after formally retiring, to get back on the bicycle …. stupid damn hard work. Whose idea was that anyway?
It took me six months before I even wanted to read a newspaper Charlie. Give it time.
Love your photo and of course your straight forward sentiment.
Thanks Marina
The photo you took is breathtaking Pat.
Thanks Colline. It’s Mesa Falls in Idaho
Family is a constant cycle of love and craziness. Of laughter and some tears. In the end, family is everything and enduring. They help us go through life’s storms. Great post my friend.
Well and correctly said. Thanks Island Traveler.
Families, you wouldn’t choose them, but wouldn’t change them either. And that’s the joy.
Jim
Yup. And it’s joy this week as I’m getting to visit with a son I haven’t seen in well over a year. Thanks for commenting Jim