Heritage Part Two, or I love my Aunts

I was going to stop right there, but I got the new Robin Thicke album and he is so silky smooth.  And, its the deluxe album because it was only two bucks more.  As a footnote, blogger freezes all the time as it auto saves, so as I typed that first line it read, "I got the new Robin Thicke bum and he is so silky smooth." 


My experience with packing is far different from K and his mom.  While they are packing everything that that they would need to survive and thrive in Washington, I am ready to take a backpack and two dogs.  The dogs are lucky that they calmed down and stopped freaking out on each other as I typed that too, because earlier in the night the backpack was looking good by itself.  They (meaning K and his mom), have moved many, many times and have thus developed a defense mechanism in a way.  Pack more, hold onto what you can, and bring items that will remind you of what you had.  Plus, they have nice shit.  So, I don't blame them. 

Ok, that dog and backpack comment is unrealistic because I just remembered that I have a car and a TV.  And nursing books that I should probably reference someday.  And clothes from NY and co which I have to make last forever because they don't have those in Washington. 



My heritage hails from Washington though, so I know I can find what I need when I get there. 

and

My heritage is kind of all over the place right now.  Parts of me are in Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, and Australia.  People I love and who have formed me into this person are all over the world.  They are reachable by phone and social media.  I'm use to them being away.  I'm use to not having something visible in front of me that I need to pack.  Someone else is holding onto those things in those places.


Maybe that's my own defense mechanism. 



I'm use to them being far away and have adapted to that.  While K and his mom had family within a 3 hour drive and spent holidays with family members circulating from one house to the next, we had family that you could count on one hand. 

This October, we had family members circulating through our house.  And it was fabulous.  My history was not just found in boxes and pictures, but was living, breathing, and hugging right in front of me.  Godparents were present to tell college stories about my parents.  Cousins were together, realizing that as a group, yeah we look like we belong to one another. 


My favorite moment was when my Aunt told me that it was nice to be able to be an Aunt that week.  And, then, bam, defense mechanism realized.  I hail from a small family, but wholly I am much, much more.  Wholly, I need these people, just as K needs what he needs. 


This post does have a point.  And, I'm getting to it. 


Wait. For. It. 


I'm trying to think. 


OK, I got it:

This came in the mail over the Summer.  From my Aunts.  I saw them four years ago during the move to PA.  We reconnected at the wedding.  In the meantime, they started putting my story together.  The story of our family and where we hail from.  This is from either my grandma's or great grandma's quilt.  Each of the five cousins will receive one when they get married.  I'm the first and I am incredibly proud.  I am connected.

(I love my Aunts.) 


I guess my point is, you take your heritage with you.  However much you want to bring along, whatever parts of it, whatever it looks like, its up to you to bring it along.  It is found in pictures, newspaper articles, letters from wars, handkerchiefs, quilt squares, and cities.  But, it is also in the way that you say your prayers, bake your bread, drink your beer, tell your stories, spend your weekends, and make your choices. 

Sometimes, you find it when your family opens up an old shoe box or sends you a piece of history in the mail.

Sometimes, its when you try something new and decide its good enough to make a tradition. 

And, sometimes, you find your heritage, and yourself, when you do something very daring and leave all that you knew behind. 



 At least, that's what happened to me.