Distant Families?

[PLFXpert 0]

I was making my graduation announcements last week and could only come up with five relatives to send them to. I e-mailed my father for a list of names. After I got the list I replied, "Who is so-and-so?"

"Oh, that is your uncle"
"Oh"
"Well, my other aunt and uncle, I forget their last name?"
"It's such and such but remember your first uncle died and you've had a new uncle for the past 15 years"
"Oh, oops, I put my old uncle's name down by accident. I'll have to re-do that one"

This is the actual conversation. Just wondering if anyone else has a distant family? My family is very distant, no exchanges of X-mas gifts, no visits, no phone calls, etc. I haven't seen my cousins, my aunt/step-uncle or grandma in 10 years.

My stepomom's parents are more my grandparents than anyone, I think.

BZ's family is so huge and they have a damn party every week for Uncle John Doe's 53rd B-day or so and so's new motorcycle or really, any occasion under the sun, the whole family (and I mean there's TONS of them) get together. It's so different to me. I love it though. His mom even sent me a gift basket to go along w/ the other present she had already given me for my last B-day. That was WAY more than I'd even gotten for my B-day from anyone before.

Does anyone else have a distant family?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[ladyskydiver 0]

I don't see or talk to most of my family. I do see my mom only a couple of times a year due to her living 600 miles away.

That's cool that BZ's family is so in touch with each other.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[Muenkel 0]

My situation is a little unique. All 4 of my grandparents died young, so I never knew any of them. I honestly do not know what it is like to love a grandparent. Anyway, my parents tried to compensate and emphasized how important family is. So, to this day, my siblings are my best friends and my parents and all the "kids" and "grandkids" are constantly in touch.

I guess I am a very lucky person.

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Chris

[PLFXpert 0]

Yea, I'm used to it now and think it's a refreshing change once in a while. But at first, I didn't get it at all.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[rhino 0]

I have a distant family...

I have allways been the communicator.. Now that I have had enough the little glue that was holding everyone together is gone..

No x-mas cards.. I call everyone else.. No one calls me.. Same ole shit..

I am starting my own family Family startes with ME!!

Rhino

[SpeedRacer 1]

We're not big on sending cards, but I do have a close knit family, even though we live up & down the east coast (mostly) from Florida to Massachusetts. There's lots of visiting, reunions, etc. I once drew up my family tree (father's side) all the way back to Ireland in the early 1700's.

I'm curious as to how many people are close to their siblings. i.e., do you/did you hang out with the same circle of friends, etc. I am pretty close to my brothers, & when I'm back in the Boston area we all hang out with mostly the same bunch of people.

Speed Racer
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[wmw999 2,559]

I tend to spend either Thanksgiving or Christmas with family. Since we're all in our mid-40's, and live across more than one country (Houston, Chicago, and Brazil), this is not an insignificant feat.

We've had times when we didn't see each other as often, but our father is getting older, and our kids still think this is fun, so what better time.

The real think is that with my whole extended family (I have lots of cousins I know fairly well), even if I haven't spoken to one in years, if I'm in town, I'd probably feel free to call them up and say hi, and probably end up going out to dinner.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Snowbird 0]

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The real think is that with my whole extended family (I have lots of cousins I know fairly well), even if I haven't spoken to one in years, if I'm in town, I'd probably feel free to call them up and say hi, and probably end up going out to dinner.

Yeah, mine's a lot like that. Lots of extended family that I don't see often, but still keep in touch with. Especially the aunts and uncles, and cousins close to my age. In my immediate family, the only one I rarely talk with is my older brother. Sadly, we have nothing in common - opposing interests, actually - and don't communicate well. I'd like to change that, but how? I used to feel really bad about it, until I realised that he makes no effort to stay close. I go to visit/call up my mom/sister/brother, but he never makes the return effort. I do miss him; we had a great sibling relationship when I was little.

I admire people who do have close knit families.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein

[Muenkel 0]

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I admire people who do have close knit families.

How you doin?

_________________________________________
Chris

[hooked 0]

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My situation is a little unique. All 4 of my grandparents died young, so I never knew any of them. I honestly do not know what it is like to love a grandparent.

Chris, too bad you never got a chance to know your grandparents. I didn't have mine for very long either. I can tell you being a grandparent is the absolute best feeling in the world!

J

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Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings.

[blondeflyer7 0]

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No x-mas cards.. I call everyone else.. No one calls me.. Same ole shit..

I am starting my own family Family startes with ME!!

I can definitely relate

[Gawain 0]

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Does anyone else have a distant family?

My immediate family is 3000 miles away in the northeast and southeast. I see my dad about once every 18 months...same for my mom and sister. The rest of my family is scattered and very distant, though I have made efforts to see them in the past year (Aunt/Uncle in Montana and cousins in Washington).

I have other relatives that I've not seen in easily over 10 years in Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Alaska, Kentucky, South Carolina...um...I think that's it...

I think about this every year, right around the holidays (of course). Just the way it is, there's no anomosity between us...I guess I'm low maintenance

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Ducky 0]

My mother's side of the family is small and perhaps a lil more close nit. We see each other bi-yearly for Thanksgiving. We always rent adjacent beach houses for the week and everyone shows up.

My real father's side of the family is HUGE and I have been distant from them for quite some time. My sisters who live near some of them have regular contact w/ them though. They might actually make it for a wedding or a funeral involving me or my bro, but that's about it.

I am grateful to live near my Mother as we are very close, yep a Mama's boy here. My stepfather grew up as an orphan never had any real family so that makes it simple in some ways, much more peaceful around the holidays.

kwak

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the windshield. Sometimes your the hammer sometimes your the nail. Question is Hun, Do you wanna get hammered or do you wanna get nailed?????

[PLFXpert 0]

You know, part of what I really loved about skydiving after I started was my instant family.

I wonder if others like me, had the need for a family of some sort and were even more attracted to skydiving b/c of it?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Ducky 0]

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I wonder if others like me, had the need for a family of some sort and were even more attracted to skydiving b/c of it?

Most definately!

kwak

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the windshield. Sometimes your the hammer sometimes your the nail. Question is Hun, Do you wanna get hammered or do you wanna get nailed?????

[WFFC 1]

There are pieces of the family I try to keep distant as they drive me to the loon bin every time I see them...

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~~~Michael

[hooked 0]

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There are pieces of the family I try to keep distant as they drive me to the loon bin every time I see them...

I have some of those! I have some half sisters, that drive me crazy! Thank God they live half away across the country from me!

J

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Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings.

[jimmytavino 16]

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I wonder if others like me, had the need for a family of some sort, and were even more attracted to skydiving b/c of it? " PLFXpert
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This wasn't the case for me.
I am one of the many UNIQUE members of a fabulous
extended family,, (very Lucky) Grew up right next door to my paternal Grandparents,, never saw either of them angry, upset, or cross with anyone..wonderful people.
I knew before I was out of my teens, that Family is important,,, It gives one support, it can help build self esteem,, and gave THIS member the confidence
to TRY skydiving.......I quickly realized that Jumping offered many opportunities to be part of a "brotherhood" of the sky, as well as the chance to become a member of the Drop Zone Family... I was
"able to recognize it" very easily,,, 'cause of my past good fortune within my own family.
I already "knew" what to look for,,, in terms of communication, respect for one another,, and how each member can positively influence another.
I also knew the pitfalls, and traps which can creep up,, and therefore knew how to avoid them...
........Nothing was lacking,,, which needed "fullfillment".for me....In fact I have been able to assist 2 of my brothers, One sister, One cousin. & my daughter, in making their First Jumps...If not for the strong sense of Family amongst us,, I would believe very few of these people would have ever taken to the air...Over the years they had all seen MY enthusiasm,, and had indeed "heard enough stories, and seen enough pictures" that they "Just Had to try It"...........and it becomes another Adventure,,which we have shared,,, & which further bonds us together.