When I was growing up, my dad was a pilot in the Air Force. We moved around pretty often; not as often as some though. Most of our tours were for three years, but we also had two that were five years each. We lived in California, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Japan, and Hawaii.
Most of my family are from Nevada and Colorado. In between tours and during vacations, we would visit these places to see our family; grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I didn't get to see them very often and definitely not as often as the family members who lived in the same town were able to see each other. But, when I did see them, it was great and I've been recently reminded of all the fun we had. Even in those small periods of time together, I think bonds were formed. Ones that are derived from our common genetics and the funny things we have in common, things that unite us. Even things we may not agree with, but we love and accept anyway. Bonds that even as we have moved on and into our adult lives to care for our own families and forge our own futures, cannot be broken.
An unexpected tragedy occurred in our family and it pulled us all together again. It feels horrible that that's what it took for us to realize that we have to latch on to each other, but I think he would be very happy that we have found each other again. I hope to do everything I can to not drift away and get so wrapped up in what happens only in my house.
It makes me believe in a saying that as an independent, pain in the ass, self-sufficient, stubborn, I could go on and on ... but me anyway. I never thought the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" would ever ring true to me personally, but I think it does. I don't mean that I want to be like, "Peace, homies. Watch my kids so I can go eat some ice cream. Alone." I just think that having a wide range of personalities and ideals makes for happier and more open-minded people.
Love my peeps <3
Peace out!
Pam
