Family ties

Just returned from another bout of gluttony at a wedding in Brooklyn, Frank's family's haunting ground--- and it reminds me of one of the many things that attracted me to him--- He calls her his cousin, Shannon, but on closer inspection, by me, the technocrat, she's actually the daughter of his cousin-- but he calls them all cousins or aunts and uncles!! As long as their great great grandparents were related, and they lived on the Hardscratch, they're all family!!! It used to drive me crazy as I had to know the correct relationship, and it just never mattered to him-- now I understand-- - No matter where in the world they were, every year they crowded into a car(no seat belt rule then) and returned to Yarmouth every summer to spend time with grandmother, aunts, uncles, and all the greats--- His mom had all her babies here, even though his dad was in the military-- it was a homing instinct--- Whereas, we, also military brats, never really felt that sense of extended family belonging, and shamefully, my children really don't know their cousins as kin-------- The picture is Frank's Aunt Nonie (real aunt), his mother's sister, who by the way, comes here EVERY evening to spend time with her sister, Mema---They greet each other with a hug, as if they'd been apart for years, and an "I love you", not token, but heartfelt!! When she leaves, a repeat performance. In betweeen the nightly visits, are the daily phone calls!! I was reminded today of family bonds, a quiet country simple wedding, put together by aunts and inlaws, no big show of expense, but lots of laughter, love and tears of joy!!
And when I read Mike's posts, he reminds me of myself, and maybe part of what attracted him to Rebecca was her innate sense of family closeness--- Although I miss him , I am grateful that he has also become a part of a very loving clan!!!!