Aging with Grace: My Family Was Not Helpful

It would be so much easier to write a post if my family was problematic, neurotic or weird. We are a little weird in that of the seven of us who are married, we are all married to our original husbands or wives. Given that 1 in 3 marriages end in divorce, that makes us nicely statically weird.

It sounds braggy to say my sister in law (the one and only, how brave do you have to be to marry into a family of a bunch of sisters) is gracious. She and my brother were leaving the next day on an expended vacation with their young children. Even though any vacation with young children involves planning and preparation that rivals China’s Olympic preparations, they had us over for dinner in their home the night before they left. Another sister though to bring the meal. Honestly, I like these people but think how much I would have to write about if they weren’t so nice.

My daughter and I went to the Bronx Zoo with my sister and her children and on another adventure; we had to hike up and over a mountain. I prefer to be a slug on vacation but my sister endured my moderate complaining without complaint. Again, nothing to write about and my daughter and I had a grand time. If you live by the Bronx Zoo and don’t mind crazy traffic (or have a family member that doesn’t mind the drive) that is an interest place to spend the day. Even though the day was warm, the Zoo is well shaded. The exhibits are impressive.

I saw all my siblings, some even driving from out of state so we could be together. Yet again, why does writing about family being thoughtful sound like bragging but families being thoughtless make for dramatic writing?

We went on a yarn crawl, to NYC for the day (another hike, different from the mountains but enjoyable all the same. Took a taxi to the train station. Even that was not a life threatening experience.) and attended two family parties. Since I live out of state and often miss family parties hitting two in one trip was a treat. These parties were only about a week apart, so it was mostly the same family members at each party. Would you enjoy two family parties a week apart? Evidently, my family doesn’t understand the need for drama to make a blog interesting. A good time was had by all and I have nothing to write about. I am going to have to start making things up!

The young cousins are all doing well. Some are involved in learning to crawl, some in preschool, others in sports, acting, video games and with friends. They were thoughtful and kind to my daughter and me. They are not rude to their parents. They even talked with me so I can’t expound on what the younger generation is coming to. The teens and twentysomethings are more interesting to write about but those are their stories not mine, drat!

My daughter and I had a wonderful time. She told me at the airport she wasn’t quite ready to go home. I really like my family….I just wish they could be more helpful in providing me with something interesting to post about.

Comments

[Tony Tovar]

Indeed it is rare and gracious statistic breaking occurrence to see that family has kept their vows through the think and the thin.

It is rare to see families be just that; families. You know, so many people now-a-days are so caught up in the moment, so caught up in the now that they no longer hunger for a future with someone but rather for the self inflicted self-observant pleasure of the now.

It gives me great joy to here of this statistic breaking circumstance. May God Bless you and your family.

Respectfully,
Tony Tovar

[Melanie]

I enjoy blogs with just regular old family stories. No drama necessary for me.

My family is like yours- my mom comes from 5 siblings all are still married to their 1st spouse. And we all love to get together and have lots of fun that doesn't involve any drama.

[Stacey]

You know, Carol, I'll be spending time with my family in 3 weeks. I can lend you some stories if you want!