I went to a family reunion recently and it was amazing to see where my Mother’s family came from and where we are now. It was rural. We now have minimum four generations and live all over the world. We are doing well and that day was when gratitude was at the fore. It was interesting to see so many relatives in one place, and it was not a wedding or a funeral. My nephew-son says he counted over one hundred (100) and that was a small portion of the family. There were a few in-laws there, but when you bond with a member of my family they absorb you into the family, it is known that you are now family. You could feel the love. On this day there was no “drama” just peace, love and plenty food. Believe me I don’t think many families can do drama like mine. 🤣

When I got there I was just hugging relatives that I had not seen in such a long time, or had never meet. My poor children were overwhelmed as they kept hearing this is your grand something or cousin. I could understand their point of view. We don’t do second and third cousins, a cousin is a cousin. I saw relatives just sitting looking at the others with this look of awe on their faces. One of the best things was how much they looked alike with variations. I was talking to one of my cousins and I just stopped and said to him “you look so much like our grandfather.” He just laughed. For me it was everybody telling me I look so much like my mom.

I remember meeting one of my uncles for the first time. It was so surreal as most of us had never heard of him or met him. I actually introduced him to his big brother. I did tell you all my grandad was a “busy man”. And it turns out so are some of his male offspring.

My aunt who is the head of the family was there, she is the oldest person so that makes her the matriarch. She’s tiny but she carries it like a queen. It was fantastic to see her and some of her other siblings. It was sad that my mom, and her older brother and sister (twins) were not there physically. I know they were looking down as we prayed by the graves in the family plot. I know they were happy.

I remember seeing this guy that looked so familiar and then it dawned on me that he had come to my house to collect something for a mutual friend. He was my cousin and I didn’t know. 😂. Interestingly my nephew-son also knew him because his best friend when he was younger is that guy’s cousin.🤣. His best friend was his cousin and they never knew.

I always feel it’s very important that kids know their relatives. It’s so heart wrenching when they don’t even know their parents and will never have the joy that I had on that Saturday.

I tried to know as many members of my family that I could growing up. It was easy as my mother was like the glue so we knew a lot of them as they came to visit, to stay or to live with us. I remember vividly cousins, aunts, uncles just turning up at our house knowing that she would never say no. Many she ensured had a good start in life after school. That was her nature and she would have done anything for family. Mark you she was one of my grandad’s last children but she thought she was in charge. 😁

I remember traveling a lot after university, not only to see the world but to meet relatives that were far and wide. They opened their arms to me and I figured it was because I was my mother’s child. I am the only Andrea in the family so far. 😉 I am trying to ensure that my children have that concept of family. I think it’s important. Let me know what you think. What does family mean to you?

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my father’s death. I know he’s looking down on me and saying, “see I was right, you should be writing.” He was always right in his mind. 😉. Rest In Peace Daddy. I miss and love you. I can’t believe one year is already gone. Time waits on no one.

See you next Wednesday at 8:00 pm.

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