01 Nov

NaBloPoMo - Day 1

Posted by: Devyl Gyrl

There is a certain feeling I get when Halloween ends and November 1 begins. The feeling that “family” time has once again come around … that this is the “season” when people who do not normally think much about family time start making arrangements, purchasing tickets, calling home.

I myself am very family-oriented, and although there are only two people (Tween and I) in my immediate family, I have a rather large extended family.

  • Mom & Stepdad
    • Sister B & brother in law J;
    • Deceased brother SFM
  • Dad & Stepmom#2,
    • Deceased Stepmom #1 (Cyn)
    • Brothers L & T,
    • Adopted sister H,
    • Girlfriends of brothers, Ti (L’s girl) and S ( T’s girl);
  • Then there are my “extended social family,”
    • My BFF C & her hubby B …
      • their 5 kids (JL, AB, CA, KM, & SJ);
    • BFF’s family,
      • Sister A (& her two boys Ca & Co),
      • Brother M (& his gf Kr plus her daughter AR plus their new baby son G),
      • Brother GM (& his four kids Ka, Re, Ge, Da);
      • BFF’s mother (Mama) and
      • BFF’s father (Daddy T) & his gf (Ly)

These folks are the ones I’m closest to … I talk to them on a daily or weekly basis, we see each other often, I email and IM them on top of the normal contact. Most of BFF’s family lives in the same geographical area as I do, so I see most of them daily. My own folks and siblings I try to see annually, but speak to weekly or as often as I can reach them.

Besides these family members, I have several aunts and uncles (at least 8 couples, plus one unmarried Aunt) and a whole SLEW of cousins (I cannot even attempt to count them!) and second cousins (and, by now, third cousins too!).

Every year, for Thanksgiving, anyone related to my Dad’s family that can get away from their crazy lives flocks to south Florida to meet at my grandmother’s house. She passed on several years ago, but her home is still our family home. We bring food, drink, and decorations, and we party it out for the whole day and night. We then help clean up, and go home.

I *think* this is the reason Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. We make a huge point of getting together; we have a great time playing games, eating food, talking, and catching up; we promise (and succeed in keeping the promise) to do it again next year.

I have more to say, but life is calling … hopefully I’ll get back to this post in a little while. If not, I’ll add more tomorrow. J

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