Family

I am reminded time and time again how important and significant family is in our lives. People who have been there from the beginning and will continue to be there til the end. Growing up, we were constantly surrounded by family. We lived a state away from our Grandparents, cousins, and Aunts and Uncles, yet we were still constantly surrounded by them. Everyone made an effort and went to great lengths to be together. A fifteen hour car ride became part of the adventure in our excitement to see our extended family.

The car rides were long but my parents made them as entertaining as possible. Over the years, we had little traditional things in place that gave us something to look forward to every time my sister and I buckled into the backseat together. We each had our new travel game from Toys r us that we got to pick out. We had our walkman / headphones. My Mom always had a pack of trivia cards. My Dad would play the music louder than my Mom liked, but she put up with it. When my sister and I started to bicker, the line would be drawn down the middle of the seat. I am now realizing how annoying I must have been to her when the line was drawn and I would still stick one finger over it. Just to bug her. And bug her did it ever! It infuriated her. At this point in the ride, we usually pulled off for a little soda break and a stretch. It was crush soda every time. We loved crush. When I see a crush can now, great memories of those car rides down to see our relatives come flooding back. We had a favorite lunch spot too. When we made it to the Deli, we knew that we only had five more hours to go. I can still smell the meats and cheeses and breads in that deli. Another memory forever engrained into my mind. And then when we reached our relatives house, we would burst out of the car. Running towards the front door that had already been opened anticipating our arrival. Jumping in the arms of our family who lived so far away, yet always remained so close in our hearts.

This summer we are going to be reunited with our family. The family that would hug us and fawn over us at the end of those 15 hour car rides. All of us. Over twenty now that we have added families of our own. We'll stay together for a week enjoying the beach, the pools, the warm weather, the strolls through town, the ice cream cones. The occasional Margarita or two. What means so much to me is that after all of these years, everyone has continued to make sacrifices to be together. Year after year. And we love each other. I am realizing that the family dynamics are pretty unique. And the special part of it is that my kids are now building a foundation with the people who have been close to me since the day I was born. Their excitement for our upcoming trip with the family is building because they are spoiled with love and attention. And at their young ages, they know that. They know who to go to for quarters. Who to ask for m&ms. Which of my cousins will play ping pong with them for hours on end. Who will make them pancakes every morning. And on and on.

So today's blip is dedicated to family. We will all be reuniting in a couple short weeks. I'm so excited it just makes me smile. And this trip I'm going to let and every one of them know how much they have benefited my life. They know this already but it never hurts to say these things time and again. To let them know how much they have always been appreciated. And I am already planning the interviews. There will be no lack of material for the interviews as each and every one of them are going to want their own blip. They are blip followers and will want that limelight. If my cousin had his way, he'd be my blip of the day every day for the duration of the trip. Aspiring model/actor. The guy loves to be photographed. And I will get more portrait practice than I could have ever hoped for. My Mom is already worried that their aren't going to be enough days to photograph/ interview everyone that wants to participate. So I have a plan for that too. What this all boils down to is support, and love and togetherness. And continuing to learn from one another about one another.

Today I received a crushing email from Occhi Verdi and she and her family could use some positive thoughts and prayers right now. She lost her Uncle in an accident and they are heartbroken. She is a great girl and has been a really good blip friend to me. My thoughts and prayers are with you Arrivederci!