My older brother, Simon, came for a treasured, albeit short visit on Friday. A quick meeting on his whirlwind trip 'home' from Germany, where many are vying for his attention. Just over 24 hours of hanging out, playing with kids, eating too much and togetherness.
I love togetherness. Family. Being with and caring for someone who's years are so intricately woven with your own. So much so, that I actually felt quite teary all afternoon and evening yesterday, after dropping him at the ferry. The kids were equally bummed out. Lane's blue eyes shining with tears.
I always marvel at how our relationship has developed. Considering it wasn't started conventionally. He, and my other brother Rick, are technically STEP brothers. The three of us, along with my little sister Genna, thrown together at the whim of our parents fancy. We were young. Aged 3 to 10. Us girls having known no father, being that our Mom and birth father separated before we retained any memories, with no lasting contact during our childhood years. (I am extra blessed to now be close with that side of my family as well.) Bringing us to the table with an essentially clean slate and no preconceived notions, emotions or wounds. For the boys...not so much. They were older. The had the memories of their parents being together, and, sadly, the pain of them not. I can't imagine how they felt. Their view or opinion of us. I know how I'd feel, as a Mom, having a new family in my kids' lives. Not happy. Let alone two little boys with huge feelings and no adult logic to see it from. Regardless, we made it. And, funnily enough, us four truly made it, beyond that marriage too.
As we sat and chatted and laughed together, my heart was happy. We may not be blood. But we have a bond, cemented with stories, shared memories, and good hearted ribbing, that makes us as much family, as anyone else, in ways that matter.
We remember, and can laugh now, at the tears and fear when 3 out of 4 of us became lost in Disneyland. At how then teenage Simon turned down a trip to Hawaii with the rest of us to stay home with a girl. At Ricky's gravity defying, bleached hair. My compulsion to rub my cheeks when excited. Genna's awful run of braces, headgear and surgeries. And our parents' union, marriage, divorce.
We've come through, in my opinion, so much richer for it all. 4 siblings. Nieces and nephews. Spouses and Inlaws. Years of laughter, stories, jokes, tears, drama. Good times and bad. But. Still together.
For that, I am forever grateful. Proud, blessed and happy to say I have one sister and two brothers.
Much love, to all three of you.
Smiles, Be well,
Crystal
I love togetherness. Family. Being with and caring for someone who's years are so intricately woven with your own. So much so, that I actually felt quite teary all afternoon and evening yesterday, after dropping him at the ferry. The kids were equally bummed out. Lane's blue eyes shining with tears.
I always marvel at how our relationship has developed. Considering it wasn't started conventionally. He, and my other brother Rick, are technically STEP brothers. The three of us, along with my little sister Genna, thrown together at the whim of our parents fancy. We were young. Aged 3 to 10. Us girls having known no father, being that our Mom and birth father separated before we retained any memories, with no lasting contact during our childhood years. (I am extra blessed to now be close with that side of my family as well.) Bringing us to the table with an essentially clean slate and no preconceived notions, emotions or wounds. For the boys...not so much. They were older. The had the memories of their parents being together, and, sadly, the pain of them not. I can't imagine how they felt. Their view or opinion of us. I know how I'd feel, as a Mom, having a new family in my kids' lives. Not happy. Let alone two little boys with huge feelings and no adult logic to see it from. Regardless, we made it. And, funnily enough, us four truly made it, beyond that marriage too.
As we sat and chatted and laughed together, my heart was happy. We may not be blood. But we have a bond, cemented with stories, shared memories, and good hearted ribbing, that makes us as much family, as anyone else, in ways that matter.
We remember, and can laugh now, at the tears and fear when 3 out of 4 of us became lost in Disneyland. At how then teenage Simon turned down a trip to Hawaii with the rest of us to stay home with a girl. At Ricky's gravity defying, bleached hair. My compulsion to rub my cheeks when excited. Genna's awful run of braces, headgear and surgeries. And our parents' union, marriage, divorce.
We've come through, in my opinion, so much richer for it all. 4 siblings. Nieces and nephews. Spouses and Inlaws. Years of laughter, stories, jokes, tears, drama. Good times and bad. But. Still together.
For that, I am forever grateful. Proud, blessed and happy to say I have one sister and two brothers.
Much love, to all three of you.
Smiles, Be well,
Crystal
