We’re back! Another season of Five Minute Friday.
Just as a reminder, the weekly exercise is where we receive a prompt word from our hostess, Kate Motaung, then settle down for five uninterrupted minutes of focused writing. Nothing fancy. Nothing extraordinary. Just five minutes of honest, from the soul writing. Then — the best part — we get to share at Kate’s place, http://katemotaung.com/2017/01/05/five-minute-friday-connect/.
Well, the opening word for 2017 is CONNECT. The timer is set for five minutes so it’s time to GO …
I just returned from a funeral. And it reminded me of how little we connect as families. I mean, I saw my cousins for the first time … like in forever. I think it was the first time I met their children. And that’s well, just, sad.
It’s a common problem. We seem to only catch up at weddings and funerals and, unfortunately, more at funerals. Of course, that’s because of our mobile society. My family, for example, is spread out over four states. Even my two cousins, while both living in Ohio, live on opposite ends — Cleveland and Columbus.
A generation ago, families lived nearby. My father and his two brothers lived in a quadplex with grandma and even after the house was sold in the name of progress [building Route 80 in Paterson] they all moved with 10 miles of the homestead. The same with my mom’s family. With the exception of Uncle Joe who was with the U.S. Army Special Forces based in Fort Bragg, NC, all lived within a 10 mile radius of each other.
Social media certainly helps keeping us connected. I recently re-connected with another cousin who lives in Virginia. I communicate with other cousins in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. But words on a screen are not the same as face to face conversations.
After my dad died [by the way, happy birthday Dad], my [second] cousins on his mother’s side got together and organized a DeGrezia family reunion. But we’ve been thus far unable to organize … STOP
… a Siccardi reunion or a Seyer reunion or a Foley reunion. I know how much I appreciated the stories and comraderie at the reunion, getting life updates [good and bad], remembering our foremothers and forefathers, learning about US. I would love to extend that to the other roots of my genealogy.
Connect. It’s the way we foster family and friends.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Wisdom is fundamentally the skill of making life work.
The Light 
Yes, it IS sad about connecting with our families! I was fortunate to have ALL 3 of my adult children and their families during the holidays; including my oldest granddaughter’s new husband. And, within the next few months, my son will be moving back to the same city!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on “Connect” with Kate and the FMF group…I am linked just after you!
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Thank you. I try to connect with everyone in the family at least once and we’ve managed to get most of us together at least once. Follow your son’s advice, “just write what you are trying to say.” Love the cover backgrounds, by the way.
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I feel this as well. Both my parents passed away in the last five years and since then I’ve barely seen two of my siblings (I’m still in touch with my other sister regularly). But, even before then, we barely saw each other unless it was a holiday. But, now, the holidays don’t even bring us together. It is sad, but it takes a lot of work and planning to get people together, so I guess it takes an “event” for many families. Thanks for sharing! Visiting from FMF, but also a follower!
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Thanks. It is tough to plan … and even more so when you’re spread out. Hope you enjoy the blog.
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