Family ~ The Way They Were...

That skinny tall kid on the right? My Dad, circa 1935.

It's been a roller coaster these past few months. Stresses galore. Heavy Life stress. My mother passed away two months ago. My daughter's new baby was (mis) diagnosed with a possible blood disorder (thank goodness it was a mis-diagnosis). And last week, my father was diagnosed with colon cancer. And I thought these years were going to be a cakewalk! Balancing these stresses with my own health as a cancer survivor has been nothing short of a daily commitment to living and being joyous regardless of what's going on 'out there.'

But during my father's diagnosis, his siblings bonded together in a way unknown to me in my immediate family. His sister, the family's matriarch, was front and center. His youngest brother also called me with great concern. When I think of my Dad's childhood, the difficulty of raising five children during the depression years, I think they share a 'survival' bond unbeknownst to me and my modern-day sisters. In times of stress and actually, in holiday times as well, Dad's siblings rally 'round with a strength, resiliance, compassion and love that supercedes all my sibling squabbles. Something great has been instilled in this family raised in the '20's and '30's. Something strong, forged in bygone but difficult times, that has emerged as a model for those of us a generation away.

My prayers and love are with you, Dad, and all your wonderful brothers and sisters!