The six of us

On making and growing family

Last night we all attended my brother’s second wedding. It was lovely and we are thrilled to welcome another Howard to the family.

There were professional photos taken, but of course most of the pics I took look like these. Silly grabs of my kids and sibs and niblings and in-laws in rando clumps doing just whatever.

I would argue that making and growing families is both incredibly simple, and terribly hard. Parents are Class A humans with absolutely no experience who are generally — when handed their child/ren — told: good luck. Don’t call us. We’ll call you. Those with the experience in parenting are out of date, uninterested, or perhaps retired to Boca.

Grown kids — especially in those years if and before they have their own children — can be unforgiving, whether or not they have reason to be. Are some grudges worth holding? Does time heal any wounds? When does stuffing it all down inside succeed, and when does it just make things it all that much worse?

I find my brothers and sisters my very favorite people to lean into, lean on, and hug — especially as we get older. There's so little to explain. They know me. Our stories are told.

From the 4th of July

John and Tiffany’s wedding was another chance for the six of us, and some selection of our spouses, kids and grandkids, to be together again. We laugh together. We annoy each other. We know each other.

The holidays are rough for lots of reasons. Families are hard for lots of reasons. I am grateful to have my siblings, who make the effort to try and love each other, no matter what.

Even after all these years, we enjoy each other.

I loved off roading in Sedona with Kathy and Dad a few springs ago .

I loved it when Mike and I went up Mt. Etna (and beyond in Italy) together.

I loved it when Mary and I went to Venice together, and also drove poor Colin crazy in Paris.

I loved it when I got to road trip with John and his little family to Philadelphia.

I loved racing around the Hallmark Experience with Ann, taking silly photos and driving our bored husbands mad.

I love the mesh that is our of family, that keeps us all together.