Ahhh... Family

George Burns once said, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family...in another city."

This past weekend, my wife and I traveled to that city to see some of my family. We headed west towards Tampa to the town of Palm Harbor, Florida. We had planned to visit my mom's side of the family whom we hadn't seen in several months. Originally, we thought we would find ourselves using some of those reward points we earned to stay in a nice little hotel free of charge. But who was I kidding? When you travel to see family...you stay with family.

It was just going to be a short weekend trip...Friday night...Saturday night...then home on Sunday. We had no major plans and we were willing to go with the flow. The weekend was set to become whatever it was destined to be. There were no expectations. We stayed with my aunt (my mom's sister). She had her guest room to offer us since my cousin who lives in Michigan wasn't visiting on this particular weekend. We appreciated and accepted her offer for the two nights we were in town.

I woke up on Saturday morning and headed into the kitchen at around 9:00 to find my aunt working at her computer. She offered me a little coffee and a little breakfast as we started to chat. Before I knew it, my wife and my uncle had both joined the conversation. Soon my grandparents would stop by. My youngest cousin would come by later that afternoon as well. Then my other aunt and uncle, (mom's brother), would join us early that evening. By the time all was said and done, an entire day and night had gone by. We never left the house. But we finally did wrap up that initial conversation at about 1:30 Sunday morning. Yes, Sunday morning. It ended with the same four people it started with...my wife and our hosts. For an entire day all we did was talk...then eat...then talk...then eat...then talk some more. On Sunday, after a late breakfast with my grandparents, we headed home.

Believe it or not I had a fantastic time. The last time I saw everyone, we were only in town for a matter of hours. My grandmother, who just turned 88, had leaned over and asked me, "The next time you come into town Michael, could you maybe stay a little longer?" She always asked me that every time I visited her. Longer could never be enough. Not for her. Not for me. I love these people. I love all of them. Though I haven't been too good about keeping in touch by phone through the years, I have still managed to be in their presence, when I am in their presence. It's about being in the moment...our moment as a family.

But there was a special moment I experienced that weekend on the first night we were there. My wife was in the other room and I was in the bedroom looking around at the pictures of my cousins taken long ago. This picture in particular caught my eye.

Yep. That's me on the left with my sister standing next to me. My brother is standing between my two cousins on the right. I have two more cousins on my mom's side who aren't in this picture but they would have been positioned right between my sister and me as we were arranged according to our ages. You guessed it. I'm the oldest. This motley crew was my posse while I was growing up. Because we only lived two and a half hours away, we had made many trips out to visit when I was younger. We spent time with each other...doing things extended families do. But that's all changed now for the cousins. Everyone is grown up with lives and families of their own. Maybe it was a moment of nostalgia. Maybe it was something in my eye. As I stared at the picture a tear soon formed and slowly rolled down my cheek. I missed the old carefree days of our youth. I have an impeccably vivid memory of my early days. But for anything I might have forgotten about, I have parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who are all quick to remind me how any given family situation "really" played out. (And I usually always get more than one story.)

Obviously, I'm the first one to turn forty from my generation...and I'm excited about it. I see so much more life in front of me than I have ever seen before. I get a fresh start...a second life...but this time with forty years of experience going into it. Who could ask for anything more? It's a rebirth and I love it. I sometimes wonder how my brother, sister and all of my cousins (including those on my father's side) will handle it when it is their turn to reach that milestone. The idea of blogging about the journey is meant, in part, to inspire them. But there is also a part of me that looks forward to each of them reaching this milestone as well.

The memories of my youth are treasures I will never forget. I wouldn't change anything about them. And if my siblings or cousins wants to know how any given family situation with respect to us as kids "really" played out, all they have to do is ask me.

In the meantime guys...
...last one to forty is a rotten egg.

Sorry, Andi...and happy birthday.