It has been over a year since we packed the U-haul and left everything familiar. Mom and Dad, Brothers and Sisters, Cousins and all our friends... home. Don't misunderstand me, not one minute have we regretted our decision to come to K-town, and believe me, we love it. New neighbors, school, church, and all our new acquaintances. Oh and what fun learning the new language. Where I used to cut off my tee shirt sleeves, and plug up the toilet... now I cut off the water faucet and plug up the lamp. (confusing? I agree...)
Even with all the great things that have happened, we still long for the presence of family.
Four years ago as I was searching every web site for tid-bits about our potential new home, I tried to imagine how we would fit into the community here. Pointing at maps of neighborhoods I would create "a day in the life" for my family in their new surroundings; shop here, go there, live here and church there... All well planned out, a well oiled suburban life machine.
Sadly, not in the picture was the warmth and comfort of blood relations we had grown so accustomed to.
Fifteen months later and I still think one of the greatest miracles I have seen yet is my sister and Mom moving to East Tennessee. It truly has made our transition here... Complete!
It has been so long since my sister and I have been close, geographically. If it were not for her efforts, nothing would have changed. "I want to be closer to my brother and his family!" she exclaimed to me about 8 months ago, and now we share the same street, same church, same restaurant on Sunday and the same teen taxi cab duties. What fun!! We have family again!
Oh but sometimes things don't go so well with family, do they? Arguments, disagreements, and strife sometimes lead to separation. Sad, but it happens, and it's tragic. How can that tragedy be avoided?... "Glue" silly I know. Anything that comes apart needs glue. If it don't want to stay together, put more glue on it! My goodness! Glue is the main ingredient in duct tape. How important is that? Glue grabs on to two things and makes them stick together.
Today we celebrate my sister's birthday, as a family no less. Frick and Frack will come by later with all their antics. The kids will be together sharing all the drama of the standard issue teenager. Peter will walk around just being cute. Cake will be eaten along with everything else in sight , compliments of #9. I can't wait, it will be fun to watch... It will be comfortable... warm. A perfect scene. I will sit amongst the clan members with confidence of family unity because we have the glue!
Happy birthday Mary... Thank you for everything you do for this family.
