My REAL family

There is a truism that says you get to choose your friends, but you don’t get to choose your relatives. This is heard by many of us for the first time while being admonished by our parents about the kids we chose to hang around with.

Later in life, it is used to assure others that the behavior of a crazy uncle or cousin who lives in someone’s attic is not hereditary and has no bearing on our own disposition – present or future.
I have many family members (cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws) that love me and I love them. I am proud to be their relative. Some I haven't seen in many years, but I continue to love them and cherish the times we have been able to spend together.Then there are those family members with whom, no matter what you do, will never be your family.

I have friends, some of you reading this, that are my family. Some of you, like Bob Jones, have stepped in many times to be my brother, when I needed one so desperately. And my friend Terry Kelly, my kindred spirit, the sister I never had. And my late cousin, Dave Long who loved me unconditionally and understood me - how I miss you tonight. And my beautiful college roommate, Jana Torgrimson, who has loved me through all the challenges that life has brought my way.

And so many more of you who have loved me and been a true friend and have been there for me when it counted.
Thank you to those of you who are my REAL family - to those of you who love me unconditionally.

Just because. Because we are family in our hearts.