I know some families out there have seamless, flawless times with their families. Some just joke around; Others avoid any problems and skim over the top. We are not like that.
All four of us look forward to getting together - and are always glad that we did. We have priceless times together. Just this year, we went to a ball game, took a ride on the Mississippi, played scrabble, ate at a fun Italian restaurant...and enjoyed a great Thanksgiving dinner together (if I do say so myself).
But in our family, each of us four shows up with their issues and they usually surface somewhere along the way. We get irritated, controlling, a bit grumpy..and we are a family that gets a bit intense as well. We do deal with our momentary flare ups, take a little break if we need to, and once again come together for some good laughs and quality time together.
Sometimes I think we should be like other families..
And I often say that I am glad that we are not.
We were so thankful this year that Katie's biopsy was benign - and that Daniel grew a beard (turned out to be an afterthought of his Boundary Waters' trip with good friends). We aren't too happy that Tom is still working for work, but are thankful that Tom and I have weathered many joys and sorrows through the years - and will look forward to an uncertain future together. We know may people can't do that. We also have our fluffy little dog Sasha to keep us perked up and delighted.
So all in all, I will conclude as my new favorite author, Alexander McCall Smith, did (in the latest book I just finished):"But one had to be careful, (she) reminded herself: One should not ask for too many things in this life, especially when one already had so much."
