Diner with Family

My Step mom invited me to join her for a family dinner,  family in the extended modern way of family these days. Though this family connection happened well over 50 years ago. I was Telling Riles about these family members he had not met and didn't know existed, somehow related all the same. It went something like this in our family tree.

My Grand mother was widowed when my dad was an infant. She married another widower with three children, 12 years later, making my dad part of an instant large family.  Dad had Jim, Bill, and Sally as siblings.  Dinner was with members of that branch of the family tree.

 Cousin Angie who is close to us in age, got married this summer. I hadn't met the new beau, who I hear is wonderful.  I missed the wedding but my sister  T went.  Angie's adult daughter and her new husband were at the dinner. Angie is the daughter of Uncle Jim.

 Uncle Bill came to dinner. along with  Tom  H, who was the brother of my Aunt Sally's first husband. I explain the relationships to Riley.  Aunt Sally's husband, also a  Jim, died, but his brother Tom is really fun and runs in the art circles and comes to many of my step mom's art shows.

We went to Margaret's favorite restaurant. She has food issues and this restaurant understands her needs and brings her the dish she likes just the way she likes it. The food was delightful and the company was even more fun. I felt like I was at a great tennis match as my head turned from conversation to conversation, trying not to miss a word from anyone. I rarely get to see any of these people so it was special to have them all here in one place.

Not one person at the table is really related to me by blood, yet they are the cousins and Uncles I grew up with. Even margaret is not blood, but she is my family and dearly loved. They remember my dad and were his family and loved him. If anything, that family love and rememberance is enough to make them family to me.

I am sorry that my boys have no clue who these cousins and great uncles are. They are distant past, connected only by a marriage that occured over 50 years ago.