Family Connections

Probably the happiest moments I have are the times when we all as a family are together. As a young person growing up in Cape Breton I was close to many of my family. Within a stones throw were my grand parents, many uncles and aunts and numerous cousins. This close proximity to immediate and extended family had a profound influence in my maturation. My grandmother was one of a kind and ruled the roost as the matriarch and center of our family.

We as children were hardly out of sight of one of our family and this oversight caused us to be aware of the expected behaviour. There were many people involved in your bringing up and your uncles and aunts had a vested interest in you as part of the larger family. I always had another set of ears to share my thoughts with and extra hands to help with activities.

All my uncles gathered at the horse shoe pit and played nearly every day. This gathering enabled us to relate to adults and we were introduced to conversations at many levels. This helped us to form our values and our appreciation of family. In a few minutes a crowd of people from our family could be available to support and help if needed.

Family picnics, weddings and funerals all enriched our lives and memories from such gatherings are precious and help us continue the traditions. We as a family take every opportunity to get together but sometimes geography makes it impossible. On these occasions the missing are talked about and almost immediately pictures on face book get them involved and texting even keep them up to date in real time.

As we get older the need for family and friends increases and we work to make sure the time we have together is productive and meaningful so it will continue and not be lost through lack of relevance. Last week was one where I was able to have a family gathering, golfing with our group of old timers and a funeral. All three times my life was enriched through the interaction with friends and family. Life can be beautiful if only we accept the gifts it offers.