Family

I traveled to Pennsylvania and West Virginia this past week. You may ask why I would choose these states to visit. The answer is family. Family can be wonderful things, but if you're like my family...you may have issues.

I won't deny this was a slightly difficult trip. Some members of my family are extremely old-fashioned and can not understand a "career-oriented" "book-learned" "citified" woman like me. I had one family member mention to me that I had not accomplished the goal of women, to procreate. Enough said. More comments to this effect were made on my one visit.

I did have a grand time with my sister and nieces. Sis flew to PA and I met her there at my Uncle's house (5 acres nestled in the hills). It was beautiful. I had the joy of playing chase and swinging on a board hanging off a tree with my niece and sister. Childhood memories have nothing on being an adult swinging around like a child. My niece tumbling down the hill while keeping her hair from getting dirty was hilarious. Lounging on the front porch in rockers. It was wonderful!

We traveled down to WV to stay with another aunt. Curvy roads and hills are not good for my sister. She has always been carsick. We started singing songs like "Bingo" to keep her mind occupied. My aunt and cousins were a hoot to visit. My one cousin who I share a birthday with (Missy and Cissy) stopped by and we started talking like old times. My uncle said he hadn't heard so much laughter in a long time.

We visited my parents best friends who are our "aunt and uncle". My niece enjoyed it since once again she got to roll down another large hill and play on mini-John Deeres. I was told several times how like my father I am. Coming from his best friends, I was a little unnerved :)

It was an enjoyable trip with some genealogy thrown in. The only dilemma is when those "family issues" come up. So to the aunts, uncles, and cousins who made this trip wonderful...thank you. It's good to see family.