Maybe I have mentioned this exceptional family we have had the privilege of knowing for 20 years, maybe not, I'm not gonna search it, but I am going to tell you about them now. The C's have been a HUGE part of our lives, from encouraging My Honey and I to date, to inviting us to family gatherings, from card playing nights and holiday weekends in Chelan to allowing us to love their kids and loving ours in return, I adore these guys. I just forget how much because we don't do nearly enough with them these days.
Enter Facebook. Through FB I have been on the sidelines of their lives (and many others) for the past year or so. I'm not much of a commenter, maybe once a week on average, and nothing too personal or wishy-washy or radical, just dumb stuff like "I didn't think I could do it after 3-12 hour shifts and fighting this cold, but I got Christmas put away after work. Many thanks to my Sissy Lala (Hannah) for all the help a 6 year old can contribute!" Yeah, I know. Lame. But, but! It's provided this odd connection to all these people, mostly family-types, that made the holidays less awkward. I don't know how to explain it (and I've been trying for three days), but it did.
When we got to the C's NYE party I had an immediate connection with You (you know who you are) and I don't think we would have shared that without FB. When I went to my Dad's-family Christmas party I had connections with my younger cousins because I knew what they had been up to and I could ask them about stuff they were interested in, where for the past 20 years its always been a struggle to find something to talk about. It was great! I really enjoyed the connection part of the holidays this year. Turns out, I really like my cousins too.
About generations. In most cases, we had three generations present for holiday events. It was interesting to note this year that the Grandparents were, in large part, sitting back watching the fruits of their labor. It could be because they don't hear that well anymore, it could be because it's just their turn to enjoy. Either way at the C's event and at my in-laws events, that's what the Grandparents were doing. I loved it. I felt privileged to notice. To just watch them enjoy for a few minutes. It makes me smile. It makes them proud. I wonder if they were thinking? "Look what we did?"
The parent generation was, in large part, taking on the responsibilities for the cooking and cleaning. The kid generation was just being kids. Its interesting to think in twenty years that one of my kids could possibly make the same observation of me. Circle of life, right?
Another interesting and scary note: My Honey and I are about the same ages his parents were when we started dating. Think about that for a minute .... When. We. Started. Dating.
Happy New Year
My intentions for 2012: Compassion and Perspective
I'm thinking I've already started, and just as I assumed, the compassion part is hard on my heart.
1 comment:
Awwww, I just now read this :) It made me smile thinking about it, that was such a fun night! And what a great surprise that you and your hubby showed up. It's always weird keeping up with kids when they're going through the stage in their life when they change the most, because it's confusing to have to look at them as young adults and not children anymore. I have to do this with my sister on a daily basis. You're totally right about FB though, it has allowed us to kind of ease in to getting to know each other again so we're not like strangers in person. I've been so grateful to see you guys a couple of times in the past 2 years, and I hope that we can make it happen lots more! I love you both so much and some of my favorite childhood memories are of all of you circled around the table playing pinochle. To this day I don't get how to play, but I do remember what it was like to listen in on your "grown-up" game. Lots of Pepsi and lots of laughing :)
I also agree about the grandparents sitting back and watching mostly. We were all a little out of control on NYE so I bet it was like watching a movie haha. Again, I love you two so much and even though technology drives me crazy sometimes, I am also very grateful for it's ability to keep us all connected.
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