What Family Means to Me!

Family is very important to me. More so than words can express I fear. From the time when I was first able to think for myself and talk about others, I knew that my Family was the most important part of me. Long before I even knew very much about myself. I knew that the glue that held our Family together was strong. We came from Sturdy stock, my grandparents always used to say. They were right too. I have been doing some research into that Family background. Soon I will know who I am. I am ME. That is something I never realized was important until recently. Recently in that I never took the time to really explore my History before. I still have a lot of Research to do. I am looking forward to doing it, for maybe along the line, I will find my true self. I now know how important that is, and that I have to tell My Family's story. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly American....no, wait, that story has been written already. (Insert Laugh here) Actually, I think we are all pretty decent looking folks. This story continues another time, I have to get ready to go see my Hunter and his Mommy Lacey. I wonder why my parents never talked about their Ancestors? Maybe the busyness of normal day to day living just got into their way. I remember my Grandfather on my Dad's side was such a good story teller. He could make us "go" where he was talking about. He could stretch a story out so long and so interesting that you wanted him to continue and never stop talking. We never got bored. The stories were never dirty, just plain good stories. He knew just how much detail to add in to make it more visual without becoming boring on the way. That takes a real talent. I never knew if he was making it up or telling the truth, he was that good. Believable, that's the word for it. I wish I could remember some of those stories now. I tried to get my Dad to have Grandpa tell some of them into a tape recorder, but he never really felt comfortable doing that. Most people don't. For a time, Grandpa and Grandma would send letters on tape to my folks, and they would send letters back the same way. I think Dad still has some of those tapes now. I wonder if he ever plays them. How wonderful it would be to hear my Grandfather's and Grandmother's voices now. I hope those tapes have not disintegrated over time, as they are wont to do. I will have to ask Dad when I see him again if he still has them. Or if he himself remembers any of those long ago told stories. I am sure he heard them more than a time or two over the years. Family togetherness has always seemed important to me. Maybe this is because I never got to see our Family who lived in Missouri very often. Maybe 2 times a year, if that. My Dad still only sees his Brother and their Family very rarely. The miles are just too many in between them. Now both Brothers are getting older and that travel time takes up and is not comfortable for either of them. Soon they too will be gone. I dread that day. I want to go see my Aunt and Uncle and Cousins again. I would like to make the trip this summer, but so far, it isn't happening. I do not feel up to the drive alone. I wanted my Brothers to go with, or someone to help with the driving and the listening to Dad converse about the same things over and over again. I do not know if he is getting forgetful or just likes hearing those same things more than once. I don't mind it when he visits here or I go up to his place. The thought of hearing it in the car for over 7 hours is just too much to fathom. I am no longer up to that sort of thing anymore myself. I need to get up north to see my Nephews and nieces again also. I have not even seen my Nephew's latest daughter born in late January or early February. See? I cannot even remember the date she came for sure. That makes 3 girls for him and his wife. Just like us. I think they will keep trying until they have a boy though. I knew that 3 was all I could handle. Sometimes I could barely handle that many! I love them all endlessly and would never imagine Life without them. However, I know I could not have given enough to another one. I was given out by the time I had Lacey, our youngest. I feel I never had enough to give her as it was. She does not seem to have any hard feelings about that. I am very thankful for that. I just wore out as she got older. I needed more time for my own needs, and that never seemed to happen enough. I see her as a Mother now, and am flabbergasted that my Baby is a Mommy now. Even though I see her and her family often, that feeling never goes away. I spent some time recently with all 3 of my Daughters. I didn't see Jetty very long, just long enough to have Breakfast with her. Then I was with the older Daughter and her Son and my Son-In-Law Jamie for many days and will always treasure that time. It helps me not miss them quite so much. She is done with Law School for the Summer, so maybe we will be able to see them more often now. She is looking for a job, but so far has none. I will call her tomorrow to see how her job searching is going. I also hope to see the younger Daughter and Hunter sometime this week. I usually get to see them at least once a week, or 2 or 3 times each week. They will be moving soon, and I will be taking care of Hunter during that time. He is growing up so fast, it makes my head swim. He is already 5 months old, and I owe him a few catch up stories about my feelings for him during these past few months. Ok, time for this story to end for now. Have a good one and catch up with you again soon. Hugs all, later! Katie