My father came from a family of nine, all gone now. I'm doing ok, circle of life and all, their children had children and those children grew and had children and some of those children grew and had more children, but I feel my loving safety net is gone Once all the aunties and uncle's wives would gather for funerals or births and have a cuppa and cookies. Last Funeral I drank tea alone, my sister too far away.

Sweetie, I'm sorry you had no one to share with. I live within a few miles of all my family, but at one time I lived farther. I know what its like not to be able to share the loss of someone cause you can't be together when it happens.

Tonight my dad is staying with us...it's been a rough several days, two BILs having heart caths, one had a quadruple bypass, my DIL had surgery Tues.
I couldn't be at either...one too far, and I had dr appts. A friend got killed in an auto accident and the hits just go on and on.

Family should spend time together to create the special memories...

Yeah, you carry the memories forever. No matter what happens, you got a piece of them in you forever. There's those who have a piece of you forever too., no matter what.

I remember being a little kid, and having the big people all around, feeling so safe and protected. Even in the hard times, you knew it was going to be alright, they were going to take care of you, of everything.

I looked around at Christmas, we were all at my sister's. I still have my mom - she's going to be 79 this year, hard to imagine. But I looked at our kids, my 2.5 yr old granddaughter playing with my sister's 3 yr old granddaughter. They were so cute. It brought me back to when my son and her daughter were the same age, and played together.

Now her girls are all grown, her one girl is in FL, the one who grew up playing with my Joe.

The two tots shared My Little Ponies on the floor and I realised, now We are the big people, the old people. It's our turn to make these little ones feel safe and loved, like they have a hundred people to turn to if their cuppy needs a fill, if the dog stole their cookie, if they can't tie their shoe.

I feel good about that. It's good to know we could give them what was given to us - family. When I look back, I am most grateful for the family, the cousins, the uncles and aunts. The toys were great, the food was good, and there was candy lol. But the people are what made it.

I'm glad my kids had that too, they're already old enough to tell stories. They already look back and laugh.


And now, the grandkids are getting it too.

Whoever makes it to my funeral, I hope that's what they do... look back and remember and laugh.