Family

Family has always been very important to me. My family was small. Dad and Mom both had one sibling each, and my two brothers and I didn’t have very many cousins. The ones we do have lived in other states and we didn’t spend much time with them in our youth. Peter and I were not blessed with children, even though we wanted several and our various attempts at having a family were unsuccessful (and I suspect that was a contributing factor in the eventual dissolution of our marriage as we never figured out Plan B when parenthood was no longer an option).

Fortunately, family shows up in many ways. After my Mom’s untimely passing in 1998, Dad remarried, to fellow La Purisima docent Audrey, and I suddenly had an extended family, with three step-brothers, their spouses and children. In the ensuing years the “steps” became close, especially after Dad’s stroke and need for more care. Dad and Audrey’s 22-year marriage was strong, filled with joy and travel and the now thoroughly blended family. We shared lots of holiday celebrations, summer BBQ’s and other fun gatherings, but more important, when Dad’s, and then Audrey’s health began to decline we all rallied around both parents. 

I am grateful that although Dad and Audrey are no longer with us, we “steps” continue to regard each other as family. 

I have also had the good fortune in recent years to reconnect with cousins, especially Dad’s sister’s children. At Dad’s memorial service in 2022, we decided it was time to plan a family reunion just to get together and not attend a memorial service. (The prior gathering was at Uncle Harry’s service in 2018.) Last year we met up in the Berkshires to attend the Tanglewood Music Festival and just share quality time and laughter. More about that to come in the Travel section.

In this section I will share the occasional story about family members and our adventures together.