Throughout my life my family has lived mostly apart.
I started out in Ontario but have live in British Columbia for most of my life.
I have an older sister that stayed in Ontario when the rest of us moved West as she had a family of her own there.
Eventually she, and her family moved West too and it was wonderful. Then my other sister moved away for many years. We did not see her often. She was living up country and a good portion of the year the roads are not for the faint of heart.
As the years went by the eldest moved away to Vancouver Island as did her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters. Not that far away but it was an expensive and trying ferry trek to get to the island. It was not a trip that was made often, in either direction.
Boy were we cute!!!!
My nephews and their families stayed in the Lower Mainland but the nieces did not…for a while.
During most of this time we stayed in the same house in a Vancouver suburb. Thirty two years to be exact.
Then, as it is with families, children grow up and move out. The children and grandchildren made their way back to the city and suburbs of Vancouver. Babies were born. We moved further out from the city to an area none of us would have ever even considered 10 years ago and then it happened.
Gradually my sisters both came back. By mid April this year they will both be within a half hour drive from us as will most of the other family members. At this time in our lives we are all living close to our families again, the kids, the grandkids.
This is giving me great insight to researching family trees. Those moments when people seem to disappear from the family and how to understand the thought process to see which family members they may have followed somewhere. Then to follow the path of their children to see, perhaps, where they ended up.
It has also brought me great joy to have my family close together again. To be able to meet up for a quick dinner. To pop by for a visit to see their new digs.
Do you live close to your siblings? Is that a good thing? Family ties can bind or they can bind… take it any way you like.
(There is a brother in this family as well who has chosen, some years ago to no longer be a part of our family no matter how hard we have tried. He is living not far away although he doesn’t even know that we know that. Hey… I am a researcher after all.)
My family started in Southern California more than 60 years ago http://theuniversesmiles.blogspot.com/2014/12/memories-of-my-life-in-mid-century.html but now my only sister lives in Salem, Washington while I live in Albuqueque, New Mexico. I suspect we would not be close even if we were physically close- too many differences seem to have widened the chasm.
ReplyDeleteMy brothers are both gone now - and I had no sisters. We lived far apart - Alaska, California and Kansas - but we saw each other when we could. My nieces and nephews are in Alaska, Alaska, Alaska and California - and we are in NW Washington state - but facebook keeps us close - especially all those in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteLots of migration here and there in our family too, and some of it continues. Some move far away and settle never to return, but our world today allows us to keep in touch. Then there are those, like your brother, who have chosen to keep themselves apart no matter the physical proximity.
ReplyDeleteAfter 4 different city moves, I ended up in Muskoka Ontario. My parents stayed in Southern Ontario but my sister and her family (husband and 2 boys) followed not long after I moved here, that was 30 years ago for me. Then I learned I had a half brother living in New York State, and we try to see each other once a year. And now I have cousins in BC whom I am going to meet this year! Right Lori?
ReplyDeleteRight Elaine, I am really looking forward to it!!!
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