Something to be thankful for this holiday season
Not busy--to me that implies too many to-dos and not enough time-but full of things that are meaningful to me and I have the time to really enjoy.
This year we decided to throw caution to the wind and drive to New York to visit my husband's sister and her family for Thanksgiving.
Tim and his sister, like many siblings, had allowed too many years to pass by without communicating, Nothing in particular caused this--other than distance (one lived on the east coast, the other on the west coast) and maybe some life circumstances.
But, like most families, a crisis happens= siblings need to talk=re-connection happens.
The crisis was a mother who was very ill.
There was information that needed to be shared, decisions that needed to be made, and support that needed to be given,
As providence would have it, my sister-in-law had married an east coast guy a few years ago, which made traveling to see her and my husband's mother much more convenient. We had visited each other twice over the summer so when the topic of Thanksgiving rolled around, there wasn't much to discuss other than how soon we could be there!
It was a special time--despite the awful drive in the rain and snow. And, oh how beautiful this little town near the Hudson River looked all covered in snow.
Best of all was seeing sister and brother, mother and grown children, aunt and nieces, grandmother and grandchildren, and cousins discovering cousins.
Yes, I was the lucky one who got to observe it all.
I learned that sometimes it is hard to admit you have made a few wrong turns in life. And yet, it is easy to avoid the very people who would love you in spite of those decisions.
I have learned that despite all of our shortcomings, there really is nothing like family. And when we finally let down our defenses and invite a brother or sister back into our lives ---well you get to experience something pretty special.
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