Coming of Age

G and I don't live close to family. We never have, really, other than a few years in Virginia, down the road from his parents, during an insanely busy professional time for both of us. When we were first married, and living in Hawaii, we would save time and money for one huge mainland trip each year, cramming in as much time with as many people as we could. We stretched ourselves too thin driving all over the state, and while some family members were overjoyed to see us, we had a few who resented what time we needed to spend with others. Over the years, these big trips of ours tapered, and then stopped completely, which I prefer.

Introverts that we are, we much prefer spending days at a time with a few people, rather than drinking from the fire hose that is an annual reunion of relatives, extended relatives, kids, neighbors, etc.

We're at such an interesting time of life right now (<---geez, I sound like an octogenarian) because many of our young relatives - my brother, G's cousins - are now adults with autonomy and a little spending money. Which means that we are able to see each other more often, and under different circumstances. We are able to meet up on our own terms instead of at events determined and, let's say managed, by others, by the adults. As odd as it seems in the world of family dynamics, now we are the adults.

A great example of this is my relationship with my bro.

This was homecoming week at my high school and I was dressed up for a theme day. I might be from Arkansas, but we did NOT actually dress like this. For the record.

 

I'm a whopping thirteen years older than him - the year he started kindergarten I started college. So, we've spent a lot of our lives apart, with much of our time together spent with other people. Remarkably (read: God) we are very, very close. Now that he's on his own, we're able to arrange trips for just the four of us. He and my SIL are settled into their new place and we're hoping to fly out to spend some time with them over the summer. I'm so, so glad times together are becoming a regular thing for us.

Today, a couple of G's cousins get here. They are driving - so they'll have their own wheels, thank God, because Bunny Mama is too old to entertain 20-somethings - and they are staying with us for a week. When G and I got together, these girls were young. I have the same name as one of their cousins, who is my age, and I remember that they would get so unbelievably excited - as only little girls can get - when "B" was coming over (thinking, of course, that it was the other B, not me). When I walked into the room and they realized it was only me, their faces would fall and they would slowly turn around and go play together. 22-year-old me tried not to take it personally. Now we laugh about it. Now one is a teacher and one is in her senior year of college and they saved up to spend part of their summer vacation with us, and to explore CO.

The house is clean. I have bought All The Snacks. I'm enjoying the last few hours of quiet before they descend upon us. I am firmly planted in front of the fan, sipping my coffee and ignoring the paper I need to be writing.

And I am thankful.