For I am Him

I now have come to fully realize what my mother taught me. For a while when I was young she insisted on all of us (her kids) to be self reliant because once she was gone, all we would have was each other, and she was so right. Was this woman ever wrong about anything?

Growing up, I recall numerous family members that lived with us, came for help, visited under the auspices of being family ...this relationship was in truth non symbiotic ....

Because No sooner had mum been burried, than these people scattered into the abyss.

The togetherness that they insisted on when she was around, doesn't matter anymore. Even the people that were struggling and she decided to give them cars now can not even give 5 minutes of their time. When she was around, they could give days...I guess there was payment to be gained.

Is that what we call family now?

Then there is the proverbial cousin who wants to establish contact and get reunited only to let you know that he needs something. What a world we do live in.

If there is one thing I know and can count on,

It is that despite being separated by distance, my siblings will go to the end of the world for me, and I for them. Just like Momma said...family is me and them. Uncles, Aunties don't exist unless you have a fat wallet.

It sounds trivial that I am an adult and complaining about this kind of stuff, but really I am sad. I don't think I know what an extended family is anymore.