I had a great time meeting up with my Mum and Dad and siblings on Saturday night. Al and MultipleMum had just been to the AustBlogCon, so after a quick catch-up on who's who in the bloggy zoo, we were free to just hang out with The Rentals and my youngster brother (aka TICH). It had been years since it was just the six of us sitting around the dinner table. Just like old times, except that despite my most persuasive efforts, Mum and Dad refused to move their chairs around to the heads of the table, so it wasn't quite like the old days, but, hey, close enough.
What a privilege it was to step away from my every day responsibilities and regress, just a little. Not parent-me or wife-me or even grown-up-me. Just a sister and a daughter basking in the company that has known and loved me my whole entire life. We were silly beyond words, occasionally serious (religion! again!), always scathing of anyone who dared to hesitantly raise an opinion that differed from the gang. Ah, family.
There is something deeply comforting about my nuclear-six. My marriage is a beautiful one, my darling children aren't going anywhere, but there was a comfort-level on Saturday night that I felt cocooned by. These are my people.
They know me. They grew me.
Have you caught up with your nuclear sans new family lately?
Do you have a good time together? What do you usually talk about?
[Image by Amanda Gilligan]