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Family

Who's your family? I realized the other day that when I say "family," I'm including everyone - 2nd cousins, great-great-uncles, etc. Not everyone used the term that way. My friends, who use the word "family" to mean their parents and siblings, are aways stunned at the seemingly endless supply of cousins in my life. However, when you're including your parents' cousines and their children (and grandchildren as the case may be), the list does get a bit long. Recently someone called and said "Hi, this Betty*, your cousin"... and it took about 15 seconds to cycle through the list of names before I was able to figure out exactly who Betty was. My friends may not have family members calling up out of the blue or innumerable family obligations, but I believe I'm the richer for it.

Last Tuesday, one of my uncles passed away. It's one of those situations where people re-evaluate their life, seriously wonder why this simple accident cost a loved ones so much, and curse at all the injustice of the universe. Ironically, this was the uncle who would reveled in discussing those questions. He always seemed as the quiet, deliberate type, but once you got him going - there was no stopping. You were off on an intellectual rollercoaster. Heaven help the FoxNews watchers who tangled with him.

At the memorial service yesterday, over 200 people crowded into a small rural cemetary. Numerous former students told stories of his artistry and his desire to for them to pull out their creative side, to describe themselves through the arts. His was a life "live(d) deliberately," and we are the better for it.

The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curledIs the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve. More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
"Dirge Without Music" - Edna St. Vincent Millay

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