FAMILY???

What's the deal with family? Does anyone else have family members that are so self-absorbed that they can't/won't be there for family needs? They sure seem to have time for friends and acquaintances that don't mean anything in the big picture, but not for the ones that use to share the family dinner table or the ones they creeped down the stairs with to see if Santa had been there. I know that I have dealt with this before, but Hub has got me all wound up again.

I wrote earlier about bro-in-law disclosing that he was struggling with alcoholism. Hub called his sister last night to check on her and see if she had talked to him. NO. He said you really ought to call him. We-e-e-e-l-l-l she said that wouldn't know what to say. Boo-hoo! How hard is "I love you, Brother"? Why should I be surprised? Both of his sisters have been a non-show when it has come to the struggles we have dealt with during the last couple of years. We have been in tears and destroyed because our son is locked up and they can't even ask how about him. The subject is always the little class they are teaching, or re-decorating the new house or how well their kids have done in sports. In looking for an excuse for them (yeah, I don't know why I do that), I had decided that maybe we were too sensitive or too wrapped up in our own stories. Guess not if they can't respond to the other brother either.

So just a reminder. Take care of others, but take care of family first. No matter how busy we get or how far we are physically from each other, there is something about the comfort that only they can bring to the table. Just an "I care". You can't fix the problems, but just a little interest. The "talking it out part" can still be with the friends that we chosen as our confidant, soul mate, BFF, etc. Personally, I just want to know that the family cares, too.

Later.