Have you read the book "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd? I saw the movie first, and then read the book and let me tell you; I loved the book. I cried reading the last chapter. The movie was O.K. but it did not transcended beyond the screen. There was something about the words in the book, how they rolled and made you feel you were in that place living right along with the main character all the heartache and all the joy.
My daughter just got married a few weeks ago. It was a lovely wedding, full of laughter and dancing and joyful love of friends that are family and of my husband's brothers and their wives who were amazing and brought even closer ties to our hearts. Yesterday, I was speaking with my airplane friend and she said, we were YOUR family that day, and I have to tell you, I knew I was not alone but had more brothers and sisters than anyone could count. And then I remembered the aforementioned book. In her need of a mother, she discovered she had not one, but three; that loved her and nurtured her.
In my need of family, I have discovered that not only have I had more mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and cousins; than I could count. Starting with my beloved auntie auntie, but I have had a shepherd, and many more that have blessed me. Sometimes only once; sometimes for years. I have a tall brother, that was a football player when he was younger, I have a brother that is an Entomologist, and knows the name of each bug on the land of the rich coast. I have a brother that was born in Chile, and taught my husband how to drink wine. oh! How many soirees we enjoyed on cool nights of broken wine glasses!!! I have a brother that is my twin, we were born I, on the 21st., and him on the 22nd. Of course, he is 5 years older than I am but nevertheless, my twin because we think very much alike and almost finish each other's sentences when we are together. I have a brother that is married to a beautiful and delightful sister. His family lived in Germany for some time. I have a brother that lives in the country of the Black Forest. Many more that were at the wedding party that demonstrated their love for my sweet baby girl and for us that day. Also, many more that could not make it to the wedding but I still love them all.
What can I say about my sisters? They all are beautiful. I have one that speaks into thousand languages and has gone around the world interpreting. I have a sister that I met when I was flying to New York, she is so good to me, has a heart so big, that it barely fits inside her chest. I have a sister that has green eyes and two lovely girls; I have a sister that believes in organizing, in having everything in order. I have one that likes to defend me against injustice and would probably chop down heads for me, if I would say the word. One of my sisters has a funny nickname: Yogi, like the bear.
My story would not be complete if I do not talk about my niece and my nephew. I have the most exquisite niece, intelligent like her mother and witty like her dad; she makes me smile and makes me want to be wild. In a sense, she has kept my mind open because I have to confess that sometimes I would go down into the obscure line of narrow mindedness. My nephew has a big heart, studying to become a doctor's aide, his dad and mom taught him well.
This is my family, I love them all and they all love me back. They have nurtured me, comforted me in more occasions that I dare to remember and encouraged me with their own lives. Is not life wonderful, that allows us to love and be loved?
Understatement of the century: I miss you all, love you all and wish we could all live together in a nice quaint town. We would probably call it Utopia. Oh, wait there is a town in Texas called that. If you think of a better name, let me know.
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