Blog posts continue to be sparse for now because of hectic times on Emerson Street. Hectic times can cause stress, which in turn hurts brain health, but we are amidst a good type of hectic times. Our daughter Serena has moved back home. As full of joy as that news alone is, this post is more about our extended family.
All of my brothers are tight and supportive for each other. The support extends to our children, cousins to each other. Some might think this is due to spacing. Pete and family live in Washington; Dave and family live in Long Island; Bob and family live in New Hampshire. We could not get on each other’s nerves if we wanted. Ah, but Ernie and family live right here in Norfolk, establishing the same roots as Kirk and family. Over the years I’ve accumulated a huge debt to this branch of the Sinclair clan.
When Cindy and I first moved back home to take care of our Mom, renovations were necessary for the house. Unfortunately, I’m the black sheep of a family otherwise full of handyman. No worries. Ernie and his sons came to the rescue to renovate the attic. Likewise when my full family of three kids moved back in after time spent in Ithaca, Ernie’s sons built a custom bunk bed, loft and book cases for us. This past weekend, as we were helping Serena Kevin move in, Ernie’s sons Scott and Mike helped with the moving in yet a third time. This time there were no custom projects, but they did remove a door frame for moving in a dryer.
Mike and Scott (Noah in background)
Admittedly, my familial debt extends way beyond Ernie’s clan. Dave’s clan provided enjoyable and much appreciated vacations for my family over the years, both in Long Island and more recently in Florida. Pete’s clan housed and supported us on our western adventure excursions. Bob’s clan made many a holiday gathering a joyful event, as well as being ardent supporters of my current situation (Hi Bob and Jill!).
Some might gather from this that I’m the spoiled one in the family. To a certain extent they would be right, though not in a material sense. My parents came from modest material backgrounds and lived modestly throughout their lives. Their riches were embedded in family; as the youngest of their children I have been spoiled the most by these riches.
My brothers know I’m the spoiled one in the family, of course, but that has not deterred them from spoiling me further. I like to think that now I merely am giving back. Having benefited from such love, acceptance and support by my extended family over the years; I now transfer that love, acceptance and support to Cindy. It takes a village to raise a child. So, too, does it take a village, or at least an extended family, to be a caregiver.
Once these hectic times pass I hope to post more often. I’ve been lining ’em up in my notes. There will be commentaries on nursing homes and Alzheimer’s research; more reflections on kindness and the quality of life; and a few brain health topics revisited as I continue to learn more about diet, exercise and other factors. Please continue to stay tuned.
Blessings to your family, too. That’s what family is for and it appears that you are part of a “real” one.
Blessings to you and yours as well. 🙂