FAMILY

Everyone seems to think their family is the most dis-functional, but mine, we are just normally who we are. There are those of us who don't get along, others fear won't get along, others still, assume don't get along, and then some who still aren't sure.  We get together as often as we can, although we are smart enough not to get together all at once.  LOL.  We are family, commonly bonded in blood, love, fights, arguments and the same journey of life we are making.  We have our little clicks, our favorite cousins, so forth and so on, but we are family.  There are no knock down drag outs at our get together's, there's mostly foolishness, bad behavior, lots of laughter, dancing, the burning of furniture and freely flowing alcohol.  We don't have time to put one another down, preach to one another, point out other people's flaws, because each of us knows without question we all have issues and the beauty of being family is loving people despite those issues. When you are busy loving one another there is no room any of that.  Sometimes there's a heartbeat of silence and a deep intake of breath and if you look around the room at the very moment you will see nothing but big ear to ear grins and contentment.  We are family and we need one another.  There's no time for anything but love and enjoyment and basking in one another's love.  I am pleased to announce I can't ever remember anyone being put out, placed in a car with a sober driver, angry words, or a fist fight, since we were stupid kids.  There are hugs and laughter and food and "I love you"s and "Are you okay?" and "You can stay if you need to"s.  We have finally learned what is was our mother was trying to teach us all along.  I used to hate to hear her say it, because I was selfish and spoiled and spiteful and mean, but she would always say, "Y'all need to learn to love one another because one day you are only going to have one another."  I wish I could tell her now how sorry I am for being the brat I was and how right she was in what she was trying to teach us.
I'm going to just put it out there, tell the truth and shame the devil, I was a mean ass big sister.  I wanted them, but once they were mine I wanted them to go away or I didn't want to care about them.  I am not that person anymore and I know they know that and I know they know how much I love them, how precious they are to me, how I wish I could take it all back and do it all over again, but we are who we are today and mama got what she wanted because we do love one another.  We still haven't learned to stick together all the time, but we have learned despite any differences we've ever had, falling outs, fights, all the crap that happens with people we are family, we are all we have and we love one another.
Like I said, we aren't perfect and aren't even trying to be, but we have come to a place where we finally understand how important we are to one another and you just come get you some if you feel froggy, because we are Gossett's and play time is over.
We all have our opinions about one another, different relationships with every single individual, and even if we voice those opinions, it's in a joking manner, no one is sitting around dogging anyone else out, or talking bad about anyone who isn't present to defend themselves.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
If you're ever invited to one of our functions you must know they are not for the faint of heart or the easily embarrassed, and it's all in good fun whether it makes you blush or not.  If you weren't family and blood, you will be family before you leave.  We are a hospitable people.  (Thank you Jesus)
I love going to my brother's house, I never have the thought "the road runs both ways".  He is home, his wife is mama, his home is open to us all.  He feeds us and I never even considered what a huge task that is until they visited Easter and he was like, "Sis," and I was like "I figured it in to my budget and you always feed us!"  It's amazing!!!!!!!!!!!  It's family!!!!!!!  It's love!!!!!!
Today I didn't even want to leave!  I wanted to stay another week and just hang out and lay around and watch television and do whatever.
The beautiful thing God creates us to do that we so often overlook is to recognize and live in just being.
No matter what any of them think, I love love love love love my family.  I love each and every one of them, whether they think I do or not.  I love them for who they are.  I love them for who they have been to me.  I love them because they love me!
I am not perfect!  I am bossy and bitchy and the big sister and I talk too much and I'm loud and not so much arrogant anymore, but I am!!!!!
I reserve the right to pull rank at any time, but these days it is gentle and loving and laughing and funny.
I will never forget my sister's husband, who was being stupid at the time saying to me, "Bitch this ain't even your house!!!"  and to that I replied, "I'm the big sister and you are leaving right now and if you want me to wake my brother up to tell you the same thing we can do that, but you are leaving either way!!!"
And what can I say about my baby brother?  There are volumes!!!!!!!
Family.
Look around at your family, take a deep breathe, thank God for them and smile as the tears stream down your face because you are wrecked with love!!!!