Family Reunion

One Sunday evening, a few extended family members gathered for a family reunion, something we haven't done for a few years now. My cousin Carrie has returned from HK after a 4 year absence from the U.S. and her younger brother Jason came back from being stationed in the U.S. Army in Italy. We were happy to see them.

In addition, my 9th aunt, who is my father's youngest sister, also came over and had been experiencing a difficult time as her husband is terminally ill at age 58. My cousin Thomas, and cousin Eric and his wife Bianca and her mum, and my 8th aunt all gathered at our home for a family reunion. I haven't seen Eric for almost
5 years! So, it's really bittersweet and nice that we could all sit down and have a meal together. Family is such an important aspect of life that it takes more conscious thought to organize a reunion as family members get older and are busy with their own lives. The word 'family' isn't as conservative as it sounds, instead, a family could be made up of a group of people who are not even blood related but have a sense of bond and connection and commitment for each other. But, no matter what, everybody needs family. As Eunice Kennedy Shriver said, 'if you don't have a family, then go out and get one!.' She said that jokingly but there's an underlying tone of seriousness to it because in our lonely world, without family, it could be colder and darker when it doesn't have to be, if only we understand the meaning of family. At Hong Kong, I have discovered extended family members there and without them, I would not be as grounded and stable as I was. Cheers to family, in every sense of the word.