I'm not usually fixated on wealth (see last post). The attitudinal accessories of money make me a little queasy. I wouldn't mind a few extra thousand dollars to put toward plane tickets, though. After 2 glorious (and I mean glorious) weeks in Arizona I have decided that I need to visit way more often. 65 degrees. Sun. Siblings. Delicious Mexican food on every corner. I took it for granted for so many years. In high school I actually wished for gray skies and rain and real sweater weather. (My dark itchy thrift-store wardrobe didn't jibe well with that heat). But now... what I wouldn't give for flip-flops in January.
Highlights included many nights cooking with my mom and siblings with Aretha in the background, a lovely Christmas morning with thank-you hugs after every gift (I got 2 booklights--yes, I asked for a booklight--and one bright pink Snuggie), a little shopping, Avatar in 3-D, a few family parties, Rock Band, a reunion with a high school friend, and, as the grand finale, a night out on New Year's Eve. The theme of the night was BIG HAIR and delicious Mediterranean food. And no camera cord with which to charge the camera. I will rely on my facebooking sisters to provide the pics of my big beehive hair and post those later. (Thanks, Tony, for the pic).
At each (somewhat infrequent) family gathering someone mentions how fortunate we are to have such close relationships. It's true. No one is "not speaking" to anyone else. We keep in close contact online and on the phone. We're all best friends, the whole jolly lot of us.
I try to convince my boys how important their relationship is. Years pass and the people we tried to impress, the cliques we clamored to join, the masks we wore all fade away. Our families remain. I'm so grateful for mine.
5 comments:
First, I must say that I love your little doggie header. Cracked me up. And I love the title to this post. So, e.m. forester of you.
This post was beautiful. So well-written. And I have to say that I agree: you are really lucky to have such a close family. Ever since I met your family, I have secretly longed to belong to it. (If only Dallace had been older. Or I had been younger, perhaps I could have married in) You guys are just so witty and fun and close.
I love my family, but I am a bit envious of the easy way you all relate to each other and how often you laugh together. I'm sure there is some tension sometimes as there is in every family, but there is just something unique in yours.
I'm so glad that you got to go and have a fun (and warm) time. I'm glad that you are back, though. Let me know the next time you plan a trip and I might join you and go see my sister.
The picture at the top of this post confirms everything I have always said: YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!!! My GOSH, girl! You're a freakin' knockout.
Glad you had fun with your family. (once they got over how jealous they are of your looks....)
A whole winter break with your family - the best! What a great post. You are blessed to have such a great relationship with your family. Glad you had a good time in AZ. And I agree with Elizabeth - that is such an awesome picture of you! I love your hair and secretly wish I had it. (Oh, I guess now it's not a secret wish anymore...)
I love that picture! And I totally agree with Elizabeth: you are gorgeous. Not just anyone can pull off a beehive, but you do so with panache. Love the beads too!
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