My Family

My birthday is fast approaching. It's this Wednesday! In recent years it has not been as happy of an occasion as it likely should be. My family has suffered through some devastating heartache. Some years ago I lost my grandfather whom was everything to me. He passed away a little more than a month before my birthday. Then in 2007 I lost both of my grandmothers 3 months apart and my favorite uncle passed away during that 3 month time span as well. We actually lost my grandmother on my dad’s side of the family just a little more than 2 weeks before my birthday. So needless to say since I was so close to those family members when my birthday rolls around it’s not as happy for me in recent years. I have trouble getting into the right frame of mind to celebrate. I tend to be a little weepy as my birthday nears.

Due to the drastic changes in my family the dynamics are certainly different. I mean no disrespect by this next part to any of my family members…I’m just being honest. I have never felt a close bond with my mom’s side of the family. It’s cordial, it’s enjoyable to get together with them. But there isn’t a single person on my mom’s side of the family that I would call on the phone to simply chat with when I’m bored. For the most part I would refrain from asking them any advice too. It’s just not that type of relationship that I share with any of them.

Now my dad’s side is different. I identify fully with them. I’m a Peterson for sure! My personality, my looks, my beliefs all come from the Peterson side. I’m an only child so my cousins are quite important to me. My cousins Nick and Glenn I talk with frequently. I think of them both to be more like my brothers than my cousins. I also have a cousin named Trevor that cracks me up. He’s like a walking sports encyclopedia. He can quote numerous ASU stats if anyone ever needs him too. Go Devils! On my dad’s side I’m also tight with my only aunt and some distant family members. Obviously it’s kind of a small group of us!

I went through boxes of family pictures today. I don’t mind people seeing me when I was just a youngster! Lol! First up is me and my grandpa Peterson. Then me with my fave uncle Dale. I look a little scared but trust me he was an awesome guy to be around. I wish I could've found a good pic of me and Nick but I only came across toddler pics of us. I thought he might not appreciate me showing his toddler pics. Your welcome Nick! Next is me with Glenn at his graduation and then me with Trevor at a family dinner. None of the pics are all that recent but they are all my faves. Well the first 2 are my new faves since I just barely discovered their existence! The last pic of Simon is very random. I found it in a box today as well. I started laughing because I was recently asked if I can touch my tongue to my nose. Lol! Well Simon has no problem with that!