ma famille

It's perplexing that, even though I haven't seen my parents or brother for more than two weeks, I don't feel much homesickness for them. I kind of find comfort in the pain of missing them when I'm away, sort of as a reminder that they are of foremost importance to me and my sense of self. I've come to realize how wonderful my family here is, and how lovely it is to be surrounded by these people who hold the blood and history of my lineage - their parents, my parents and even my self. I embrace the fuss they make over setting dates for meals, the endless confusion of three simultaneous voices jabbering away at me, and the constant reminders to watch my purse, to be careful when crossing the street, etc. If I lived here, that would be different. They wouldn't be as concerned, or as doting, and I would probably be too cool to hang out with my relatives. So, I feel like this current arrangement is best for both sides. I get to love them unconditionally, see them once a year at most, and derive joy from their little quirks. They, on the other hand, get to see their darling niece/granddaughter/cousin once in a blue moon, hear about how the family is doing on the other side of the Pacific, eat good food, and see me grow to resemble my parents. Yeah okay maybe I've got it better... lol. It's so crazy to me that my aunt is just willing to let me live in her house, that my cousins want me to stay over at their place, that my grandma wants me to share her bed... (okay that one's a little out there). I know they all do it out of familial duties and what not, but to just accept somebody because of blood is quite beautiful. It's a step closer to embracing just everybody as a fellow human being, a brother or sister, a friend.