Remembrances

This month marks an unhappy anniversary for me. In a couple weeks, I will have been away from my parents and brother for an entire year. It was wonderful to see my sister the two times she visited. Being with her brought back a flood of emotions and memories, and I miss her already, too. There is just something very strange about a family being separated for so long. Since I last saw my family, I have celebrated a birthday and a wedding anniversary, I have become an aunt, and I started a new job, among other things. It seems to me that milestones like these are meant to be shared with family, and it always seems a little impersonal to do everything over the phone and through e-mail. I miss them so much. I miss Mom's affection and Dad's encouragement. I miss Clark's ability to make me laugh, and the fact that there is never a dull moment when Callie and I are together. I miss Skye, the family dog. I miss the home where I spent years growing, changing, making mistakes and learning from them. I miss the sounds, smells, sights, textures, and tastes of my youth, which are already starting to feel like a distant memory.

The past year has had its ups and downs, and of course one of those downs has been the distance between my family and me. Still -- and what I am about to say may surprise you -- I wouldn't change any of it. Would it have been nice to see my family on a regular basis over the past 12 months? Yes, definitely. Do I miss them like crazy? It drives me to tears sometimes. But by being separated the way we have been, the encounters we share now are so very special. I have gained an appreciation for things I never even paid much attention to before. I hope that in the future, we don't have to spend another whole year apart, but if we do, we will get through it because we are strong, and the bond that holds us together can withstand any amount of time.

Love and Lattés,
Katie