Member-only story
Family is an F Word
Family is an odd entity for me, and I know I am not alone in this.
I know that families are unique to everyone. But because of my upbringing and family dynamic, I sometimes find understanding other people’s family units to be challenging.
First, and this is important in case any of my family reads this (and they might) that I make the following disclaimer: I love you all. Do not take anything I write here as some sort of attack, harsh judgment or indictment of anyone’s lives. This is my perspective, my perception of our family. If anything written here is hurtful that is in no way my intent.
That out of the way, let me tell you about my family.
A nuclear family — after the bombs dropped
My immediate family is both unique and not the most original story, either.
In 1979, when I was 5, my parents chose to get a divorce. My father relocated halfway across the country. My sister, who is 5 years my junior, and I were raised by my mother in the burbs of Minneapolis. We would visit with my dad several times a year.
Frequently this would involve either flying out to New York City (where he lived), Chicago, or Scottsdale, AZ to see him and his side of the family. This was usually during Christmas Break, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and a…
