keep in touch with family

...and I had a long phone conversation with her tonight. She is full of good news and plans for visits and outings with other family members and friends through the rest of the month, in spite of a few health issues. I managed to send a card and a small present, and I hope they arrive by tomorrow.

I also talked more briefly with my sister tonight. She had some good news as well.

One call from a sister yesterday. Another call from my mother tonight with great news about one of my nieces.

Received a wake-up call from a family member who has many similar problems with procrastination and disorganization. I knew there were problems, but I didn’t know the extent of them. Now that I do, it has helped me, at least for today, get a different perspective on my own problems.

One of my brothers called me tonight just to see how I am doing. He heard that I have shingles. We had a nice long talk. I really am thankful that he called. :)

Also, I’ve talked to my mom twice in the past 2 weeks. :)

and left a message. We played telephone tag for a few days, but I finally had a opportunity to talk with him and was able to wish him a happy birthday and hear a little about his life.

Almost the whole gang was gathered at my mom’s house in Pittsburgh tonight, and my mom called me, and then handed the phone around, and I had the chance to talk to most everyone. It felt awkward. I felt guilty for not being there. I felt left out. I felt like a failure because I done a poor job of keeping in touch. I felt like an unwelcome interruption to their good time. My sister-in-law had brought silly hats and toys for everyone, and my sister had brought singing cards, and there was lots of laughing and loud conversation in the backround. I felt like Aunt Scrooge.

In spite of all this negativity, I’m grateful I had a chance to be included in some small way, and have some connection with them tonight. I’m grateful for my mother’s efforts at connection.

Called my mom today, and I have to decide what I’m doing over the holidays. (Same as several weeks ago before Thanksgiving.)

Have to decide what I’m doing for the holidays.

(1) called Sat. night when I knew people would be gathered at my mom’s house. Talked with my mom, my brother Dave & his wife, my sister Barb & her husband.
(2) called and left message for my brothers Roger and Steve. Roger called me back this morning and we talked.

...she called me. She is the central information hub for our family…one call to her and I can catch up on what everyone else is doing. And she is getting older and more frail. Makes me want to re-commit to this goal – to start reaching out directly to my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews more.