I am very fortunate because I have a wonderful family. We all get along and we have fun together. I occasionally hear of families that don’t get along. How sad! My grandmother taught me the importance of family. She had a large family-13 brothers and sisters. They always made sure they kept up with one another even though they were scattered and even though they didn’t have the technology we have today. They wrote each other and shared letters. They had family reunions.

All of her grandchildren (my cousins) try to get together each year for a cousins reunion. It’s not easy, but at least several of us meet each year, so in a way we are keeping up the family togetherness that she desired. As children we always had Christmas Day dinner at our grandmother’s house. It was a time I always looked forward to. I also look forward to our cousin reunion each year. Unfortunately, I missed it this year. 

Family is so important to me. My best times are with my children and grandchildren. I became a grandmother later than most (many of my cousins have great grandchildren), but the advantage is that two were born after I retired and the other was a toddler. I have had the time to spend with them. They bring me so much joy and I really think they keep me young. 

We are presently on the way home from a cruise to Alaska. The “we” includes my daughters, one son-in-law, my grandchildren. We were sad that my other son-in-law and my husband couldn’t come.

How much fun it was to share the beauty of Alaska! Hopefully, we each made a memory that will last forever. 

For me, it was the kind of fun that keeps me young, especially when I see the joy and wonder in my grandchildren’s eyes.