FAMILY TIES

It's amazing. My Uncle Francis has visited all of us down here in San Diego with my Auntie Lorna exactly 1 time since he came to the U.S. 3 or 4 years ago.

Now, there's a baby, and BOOM! The two of them are down for a very welcomed visit.

It was very nice to have my Aunt and Uncle down for the holiday feast. They are such beautiful people. It's a shame we don't get to see each other more often.

Francis was so cute. He was genuinely timid about holding little Mikey in his hands. He feared his "rough, cement like hands" would be too hard for the baby to take.

Well, that's just silly, but we padded up his hands with a soft blanket and he was good to go. He held Mikey for at least an hour. It was quite a site.

It's amazing to see bloodlines and life carry on through the children of a family. It's even more amazing to see how a child can bring a family together. It was absolutely grand to have Francis and Lorna join all of us for Thanksgiving. For my Dad, Mick, it was the first time he'd seen Francis since 1984. That's 19 years ago... almost 20! And Francis, as it turns out, served as Best Man at my parents' wedding.

So on this Thanksgiving day I give thanks for my Family, both near and far. No matter where you are, you are all a part of me.

Dave