For the Love of Family

Thank you to those people who took the time to let me know that they enjoyed – and were inspired by – last week’s column. If you remember, I shared my feelings of helplessness following the many attacks and losses that the world is still reeling from. I also shared the encouragement I felt from various sources, including looking at my niece and all that she overcame in achieving a straight A report card.

On Wednesday night, after the paper was sent to the printer, I hopped a plane and flew to the East Coast. Not only was I planning to attend my niece’s graduation on Friday, but I also had plans to visit with some of the extensive family that lives there. My mother was from Brighton, Massachusetts and most of her family settled in Massachusetts. She was the only one who came west.

Mom was one of five children. Her eldest brother Bill had 10 kids – five boys and five girls – and I remember growing up that, when I couldn’t sleep, I’d try and name all 10 kids by age in descending order.

I first visited Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary when I was 7 years old and, coming from a house with just two girls, the chaos of this amazing family left an impression on both my sister and me. I also had the chance over the years to visit the rest of my mother’s family, including her sister Ruth and Uncle Walter and their five kids. The memories of these large, always busy, households never dimmed after all these years despite the passing of time and the distance of miles.

Happily, when I met up with my cousins (two of Ruth and Walter’s daughters) for dinner on Thursday night, the many years of being apart were quickly bridged with love and excitement. We talked family (grandkids, kids), work, (a little) politics, and memories. Too fast the night ended and on Friday morning I packed up and headed north to New Hampshire for the big graduation.

I was greeted by my niece just as enthusiastically as if by my sister. It was wonderful to see her and, quite frankly, almost eerie in the similarities I saw in her to my sister. The shape of her hands, the way she stood, the curl of her hair … it hurt my heart a little. But I shook it off and prepared for graduation at her high school. I wish I could adequately relay the pride I felt in seeing her accept her diploma, knowing her next step was college. I must also give a shout-out to her grandparents who took her in, offered her structure and guidance and brought out the very best in her.

On Saturday, after many hugs and kisses, it was time to head to Cape Cod. Another cousin – this time from my Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary’s family – invited me to spend the night there. Chris is cousin number six (or is it seven) from this family of 10 children. I had a delicious homemade meal of “lazy man” lobster prepared by her husband. The lobster meat is removed from the tails, chopped and put into individual serving bowls, mixed with butter, cream and bread crumbs then baked. That meal, served with some premium red wine and accompanied by my cousins and their terrific husbands, was perfect.

Before leaving the next morning for Logan Airport, Chris took me around the town of Sandwich where she and her husband Rich have their home. I quickly understood her love for the area.

Then amid more hugs it was time to head back to humidity-free, but all-too-hot, California.

Glad to be home and grateful for the ongoing love of family.

  robin goldsworthy