As they say in The Godfather, “To The Family!” 

Many people are upset and saddened they won’t be spending this holiday season with their family.  My family just this weekend made the decision I should not travel cross-country to be with them.  The COVID numbers are spiking thanks to careless people at Thanksgiving, and it’s just too risky to travel at this time.  It will be disappointing to not see my grand-niece enjoy her first holiday season in their new home, as she’s of a young age now where she’s beginning to “get it” and know what the Christmas spirit is about.

But there’s another line from a movie/musical that has always resonated with me.  In Camelot, King Arthur says to Mordred, “The adage ‘blood is thicker than water’ was invented by undeserving relatives.”   Some can take this as a way of dismissing relations they don’t care for, but I take it as a reminder that family is anyone you want it to be.

Family are those who care for and about you.  Family are those whom you get excited about seeing, and those you think of first when you have both joyous and saddening news to share.  Family are those you see every day, and those you don’t see very often, but pick right back up where you left off when you do.  Family is anyone who puts a smile on your face when you think of them. 

Family is what you make it to be. 

So, I’m very blessed, that although I won’t be with blood relatives this year, I will be surrounded by family of my making and choosing, and that still makes for a happy holiday.