More Family

Where would we be without family - up a tree, no doubt. Family is a never ending source of support, information, and general amusement. All families have the same assorted mix of "the smart one," the "goofy one," the "total misfit," the "arty one," and "the one most likely to see a judge." Mine is no different from the rest.

As I continue my quest toward full employment, I to have time to consider my various support groups. The family comes first and foremost to mind. They are always there to give me a call and attempt to cheer me up with stories of their own un-happy employment, or share their equally "dire" circumstance with regard to earned income.

What I really enjoy during the calls are the shared memories and usually a good laugh or two. Then I seek out my boxes of photographs, and try to find one or two that memorialize the event we have reminisced about. The problem becomes that the search will net numerous photographs without identifying marks - like the approximate year they were taken. I still can recognize the faces, but just exactly whose funeral commanded the gathering (for example) remains a slight mystery.

There are other photographs, however, that have been clearly market - names, year and event. The example (left) is dated June 5, 1976. Don't the older photographs make you smile - weren't we young (and thin)? If we had only known then what we know today ... .

But through the years it is always FAMILY. They share your memories and legends long since passed. They know the soft parts of your life, the areas to avoid, and when to reach out across the miles and give you a hug. I just wish that life would allow more family gatherings - we will need newer memories as we head toward the "old folks" home or whatever small town that will allow us to pitch our tents.