Family Values Part II - Madrid

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After a crazy trip to Ibiza, I was ready for a little down time in Madrid. Kicking it with Cousin Rolf. The truth is, despite being family, I don't know most of my cousins that well. Certainly not as well as most of my friends. Rolf being a few years older, growing up in another state and living the past 6 years more or less in Spain, he falls plainly in that category. So this trip was interesting. I was going to a foreign city to spend 5 days with someone who I've only hung out with a few times...and those few times were because our parents got together and forced us to hang out. In my 5 days in Spain, I discovered that I have an amazing cousin, that we have much in common, and that we have a great time when hanging out together. On my trip, I got a full tour of the institute where Rolf is studying 400,000 year old human fossils. I saw and touched 400,000 year old femurs and skulls. With Rolf and his friends, we drank 49 beers in one sitting before heading out on the town and we spent lazy days in the park and on the couch just enjoying each other's company.

About 3 years ago, my grandfather passed away. He was 94 and loved by all. For his funeral, all of his children and grandchildren came to new orleans to celebrate his life and mourn his passing. As a child, I grew up being told that family is important...and I generally accepted that. In my college and post-college years, I began to form a life of my own, some parts of which involved my family and some parts of which involved creating families of friends in the towns where I lived. My blood related family actually played a smaller and smaller role in my life. I was not sure what they offered at these stages, but I continued to keep them in my life for various reasons. Some for the friendship they offered, some for the support they offered and others simply because they were family and "family is important." While in New Orleans for my grandfather's funeral, all of my cousins went to a quiet bar on bourbon street (yes, they do exist), to talk about Grampy and spend some time together. We reminisced and told funny stories and had a good time, but what I remembered most about that night was that it was the first time in my adult life that I felt the power of having a family. That night, I felt that anywhere and anytime, I could reach out to my family, for any reason, and someone would be there to help me. That these 9 cousins who barely knew each other outside of the few gatherings over the past 30 years could come together and support each other as we celebrated our grandfather's life helped me discover what it meant to have a family.

I know that I won't always be close with each person in my family. Some more than others. And some at different times than others. That's ok. I am happy to be getting closer to my cousin Rolf right now. I know that if anyone in my family ever needs me, that I will be there to help however I can. And I know that my family will be there for me if I need them and that is powerful. Now, not only have I been taught that family is important, but I have learned for myself as well. Thanks to Grampy for helping create such a beautiful family, of which I am proud to be a part. Even by your death, I continue to learn the lessons you taught and grow close to the family you have created.