Greetings followers and viewers, I dedicated Friday through Monday as “me’ time. I will be doing so intermittently, I have learned it is so important to care for yourself. Today, I invite you to enjoy this repost from 2021. Love to you all❤️

You can ask twenty people the meaning of family, and the answers would vary. For example, if you were to ask me that question, I could tell you who my people are, and where they came from, all the way back to my Great Grandparents on both sides. I was fortunate enough to know and spend time with my Grandparents. I could also tell you about Sunday dinners at our house, with family gathered and sometimes the preacher even came by after church. I could also share with you the fishing trips my Dad would take us on. I could tell you all about my children, Grandchildren, and Great Grands.

However today I wish to share with you events that have recently occurred and given me a different way to think about family. I have a close friend and we were talking about doing something special for a self care day. We chose to go to a tea room in Chardon, OH. The tea room known as the 7 Ladies Tea Room is an old Victorian style home, that sits on a beautiful wooded lot. We chose to sit outside beneath the canopy of a huge tree that offered natural shade. The experience was so serene, relaxing, and the food, all homemade was the bomb. The teas served were exotic and unusual blends. The pastries are all crated by one of the owners and melt in your mouth.

As we sat sipping tea after our meal, we became curious about the business catering. The waitress asked the owner to come out and discuss the possibilities with us. After she shared what she could provide to cater an event, she started to tell us about the history of the 7 Ladies. We went in after lunch to walk through the gift shop and of course pick up a few items.

Jeanne the owner then offered to give us the history of the 7 Ladies, showed us family photos, some family heirlooms, and unusual items given to her by people in the community. Before I knew it my eyes were brimming with tears. I had to pull myself together for the drive home. We all shared something about our Grandmothers and felt a bond as if we had known each other forever. I shared with her my blog info and visited her website so I could follow her.

This past week, I had the experience of visiting some of my first husband’s family in Cleveland. I had not seen some of them in 30 years and had never met others. The family home is in Cleveland , and the Vegas folks come home once a year to complete different projects on it. We had a good ole fashioned gathering on the porch, talking, joking, reminiscing, eating, and drinking. Even got a chance to dance. Of course when folks started talking about their high blood pressure, cholesterol, and back pain, I went into my alternative health mode.

I had connected with one of the nieces who I had never met and spent some time talking with her privately. She has a condition in her back that is painful and that gets her down quite a bit. I shared with her some things that may help. She was very grateful. As I was preparing to leave and saying my goodbyes, she approached me and asked, do you need help with gas? I assured her I did not, but she moved closer shoved some bills into my hand and said, take this, and thank you so very much.

After I got home I took the money from my purse, it was seven one dollar bills, folded neatly lengthwise. I just sat and the tears fell as I realized the importance of the connection formed and her little expression of love and gratitude. We did exchange phone numbers and will stay in touch. I have placed the seven dollars in a special place and will never spend them. That was a moment and an exchange of love I will never forget. The man that brought me into this family no longer walks this earth, but the bond that was established will never be broken.

Yesterday afternoon, I realized I needed an ingredient to complete the meal I was preparing for dinner. I thought long and hard of possible substitutes, nothing worked. Soooo a trip to Wally World,(Walmart), had to be made. I normally get in and out because I go early in the morning and was dreading going mid afternoon, especially on a Sunday. I grabbed the few items I needed and headed to the cashier, even the self check lanes were long.

Standing in line, all of a sudden, there was a big outburst from a Caucasian man yelling about people skipping line. That however was not the case, he hadn’t realized the line was behind him. His companion got mad and left the store, he continued to cuss and fuss and talking about causing a real scene. I was getting a little nervous. At that point another lane opened and a young Caucasian man indicated that I should go in front of him as I only had a few items. I thanked him. While waiting in line we chatted about life these days, I had shared with him I was a retired RN and of course the impact of covid on the medical field.

My turn came to check out and I realized that I had left my debit card in my purse, in the car. I had forgotten to return it to my phone case where I normally carry it. I was just asking the cashier to place my items to the side when the young man I had been conversing with stated, no, I will pay for it. I replied no that’s okay I just have to run to my car. He insisted, and said it made no sense for me to have to go out to my vehicle and come back. I was so grateful to him, he had his two children with him as well. They were probably 13 and 8, if I had to guess. I thought about the role model of a man and Father, he had just shown them.

I thanked him, and said, you don’t find too many people like you in the world today, he replied, that’s what is wrong with our world today. I asked if I could give him a hug, I did, said thank you again, promised to pay it forward and left the store. I returned to my vehicle, tears falling. They were happy and grateful tears to know that people like that young man still exist.

As I get older, my perspective on the world and people who live in it has changed. I view and see people for who they are, not what they look like. For me I have spread my definition of family to include people who are not in my blood line. It’s all about helping one another if we can, when we can. Just one small gesture can make a persons day and bring joy into their world, even if its for a little while. Family can be described in many ways but we need to realize even people we don’t know can be like family.

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Blessings❤️