Blood is Thicker Than Water

We were all sitting around the dinner table. There was not a single face without a goofy grin on it. The volume was loud and obnoxious. Everyone was trying to get their shot at the spotlight. As soon as one moment of reminiscing was over, the next would begin as if it was just one big script we were reading out loud together. The laughter hurt my belly so much, I would keep my arms around my middle, for fear I may fall apart.

The only thought that kept echoing in my head was, “This is my family.”

A few months back, my cousin Keri got married. At the wedding, I was able to rekindle my bond with all of my cousins: Keri, Karla and John-Ryan. It isn’t that we ever stopped loving one another, it was more like life got in the way of us keeping in touch with each other.

As children, we were literally inseparable. We were together at least two days out of the week. Fridays were always Papa Gino’s pizza night. The summers were spent swimming endless hours in their pool. Rainy days were spent huddled under blankets watching “Flight of the Navigator” or “The Neverending Story”. Soon, Hide-N-Seek turned into dating, proms and high school. It wasn’t as cool to stay in on a Friday night with your favorite cousins and eat a slice of pizza.

At Keri’s wedding, more than once it was said a loud to one another, “I miss you so much.” Hugs and kisses galore. We’ve all married. Karla has three boys. John-Ryan and Nicole just had their first baby. All that I could say to them was, “Our kids need to grow up and play together… just like we did.”

So, we made a pact to get together. My cousin Keri—always the one to make you keep your word—got us all together for a homemade dinner on Saturday night. It was the first time in years… At least twelve years or so… that we all sat down together. The hours flew by. The love in the room was thick and tangible. Hysterical laughter was mixed with yelps of, “How on earth did you remember that?!?”

It was a truly wonderful feeling. The feeling of family all back together, like we had never left each other’s sides. The only thing that was different were the number of people at the table. Our family has expanded to make room for all of the new wives and husbands. We are the next generation. It is our responsibility to keep the tradition going. So the stories, recipes and beloved ancestors are never forgotten.

There is nothing like that feeling. Family.