Webster’s New World College Dictionary describes fam.ily as “a group of things having a common source or similar features.” Along with the obvious, “all the people living in the same house; household” or “a social unit consisting of parents and the children they rear.” In my case, the animals I rear.

This month we attended some family gatherings, though not all our own immediate family, we were included to join in as if we were.

I attended the wedding shower of a dear friend of mine recently. We were co-workers a few years ago. She always looked up to me and would confide in me as a daughter would to her mother, or in my case her grandmother. I always told her to invite me to her weddding when the time came. And she did! I think I was one of the only women not related to the “family,” but they made me feel as though I was. The wedding ceremony was in a barn, the decor Western, and the bride and groom gorgeous. Sweetie and I were happy to be a part of the newlyweds’ celebration.

Mother’s Day came next. This time was with immediate “family,” us. Tuco and the hubs had gone for a walk and when they returned, they were carrying a bouquet of roses. “Where did you get those?” I asked. “Are they for me?” He said when Tuco and he were leaving on their walk, a delivery truck came by. He wanted to be there when I saw the flowers, so they continued on their way and gave them to me when they got home. What a nice surprise! And so unexpected. I just love those two. My family, they really make me happy.

We went back to Palisades State Park the following weekend. Our friends we had met last year invited us to stay with their family in one of the group sites. We were the second ones to arrive; our friends were already there. We wanted to park on the end so they could be with their family, but they insisted we camp right next to them in the middle. So, we did. It was beautiful. Not many people were in the park yet, so it was nice and quiet.

As their family arrived, it got more noisy with kids, scooters, and bikes. My gosh there was a lot of people! We were not used to this. And now, we were sandwiched in between all of them. Babies crying non-stop and kids running all over the place. Ugh! The thought was, what did we get ourselves into?

Tuco was great. This was his second camping trip and we had him all polished up to meet new folks. We told him he had to be a good boy because we were invited guests. Our hostess said, “You’re not guests, your family!” That just melted my heart. The two other dogs there didn’t want to be his friend, but all the kids and adults loved him, and he loved them.

We rented a golf cart to get around in because I couldn’t walk too good yet. We all shared it and the kids loved it. We played Corn Hole and had fun. We spent mealtimes together and got to know each other better.

That really opened up my eyes. All these people treated us like we belonged. They included us in everything they did. They were just family being a family and kids being kids. They treated each other with respect and kindness. They baby sat each others kids. Why, even one little boy took a walk with me. I had on my Aircast boot and couldn’t walk fast. He said to me, “I can walk slow with you.” He did, and when we left, he gave me a great big hug. I had turned into a softie.

Memorial Day is another way to remember family and those that went before us that served our great nation. I am proud of our US Military and honored to call them America’s family. True heroes that had our country’s back. Isn’t that what a family does?

So, this is just a little rendition of what a family means to me. It is sharing, caring, and showing unconditonal love. It is fighthing for what you believe in and sacrificing for one another. It’s putting someone else’s needs before your own. It’s teaching others what you have learned so they can live a better life. It’s the mom, the dad, the sister, the brother, the grandma, the grandpa, the friends, and fur babies. We all share something in common, and that is what a family is to me.