The subject of family has been kind of up front for a few reasons this week.

First, as background, I have three siblings, shown here with my father in 1999.

We grew up in the turbulent 60’s and the chemically corrupt 70’s yet we all managed to be fairly normal, and I think part of the reason why is my extended family. On my Dad’s side, I have 10 uncles, 2 aunts, 30 something cousins and God only knows how many others. Family reunions take on the flavor of a convention. Every year as we grew up, on holidays we trooped to grandma’s and had a ball. The most striking thing in my memories was the amount of pure fun these people all had, and I am here to testify, it was fun indeed. The games, the good natured joking and the general love was inspirational, and I believe, in retrospect, it was also responsible for a lot of my attitudes about relationships and family in general. The most recent gathering was my cousin Kris’s wedding in Seattle, where 7 of the aunts and uncles as well as a handful of cousins all gathered to send Kris off in style. The brides section was definitely well represented.

So the reason this is important to me, is two events that happened these last few weeks.

First, My friend Miles lost his Mom to cancer a few days ago. The pain he shared in his email reminded me that life takes away the ones we love when we least expect. I am no stranger to loss I suppose. Sally, my step mom, died in 1999 after a long bout with cancer, Nancy lost her parents last year within 4 months of each other, and my Mom is currently battling that bastard cancer as well, so it is a grim life sometimes. Yet despite this, Miles also shared how some level of triumph came in the end, as a part of his family was reconciled…With the tragedy of his mothers passing, some good will still come…And while that is a long way short of making anyone feel better, at least there is some forward looking hope.