Thankful for Family Whether Related or Not

Living on the mainland for 35 years, we were too far away from our immediate family to celebrate holidays with them.

Auntie Vera, Auntie Ann and families

However, we still managed to celebrate holidays with other families who adopted us.  While they lived near us, we celebrated Christmases with "Auntie Peggy" and her extended family.  We celebrated Hanukkah with "Auntie Dina" and her family.

Uncle Jimmy and Jonathan

We also had Christmases with "Uncle Jimmy" and his family.  In the true Hawaiian sense, everyone adopted our children as their own.

 And we took turns hosting Thanksgiving with our neighbors, Bill and Caroline.

Both Bill and Caroline are professors of anthropology and served as Peace Corps volunteers in Mali.  Is it just a coincidence that Jon also went to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali?

Living here in Hawaii, we now have my mother, brother and his family to celebrate the holidays with.  I guess that's what makes the holidays so very meaningful... family, whether they're related by blood or friendship.

And so to my blogging family here in the States and around the world, I just want you to know how thankful I am to have you in my ohana (Hawaiian for family).


Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!