Just the Basics
The best thing I can say for my family is that they’re my family and I’m very proud and lucky to have such a wonderful family. That being said, let’s start picking them all apart.
First, we’ll start close to home with my brother. A renegade for sure, he doesn’t talk and feel like a regular guy. He’s not! He, like the rest of us, was toughened up to relationships and the like because of our situation – that of a divorced family. I say divorced family as opposed to marriage, because it affects the entire family, in not so pleasant ways. We’ve gotten used to my brothers stand-off, “distant” air because to a certain degree, we all understand…..don’t let anyone too close, don’t let your guards down. All in all, he’s a heck of a good brother, and a darned good guy to be standing next to should a brawl break out at the bar.
Next, my sister……ah my sister……The good one I mean! Unfortunately, cirrhosis of the liver took her far earlier than she was destined for. She was to put it mildly, the life of the party. She always had a smile ready for you just when you needed it, and a shoulder to lean on when that was needed too. We all deeply miss our sister.
Next, the other sister. I tease her only because I can. If my other sister were alive I’d be severely outnumbered! My ‘other’ sister and I were the siblings that the term “sibling rivalry” was coined after. We fought like cats and dogs about everything from politics to whats on TV tonight! Spirited, sometimes emotional, but was always loving and still is, provided I don’t screw it up here! She’s another fine example of what we Potts’ are made of….and she’s quite attractive too!
In the mom and dad category, I’m somewhat lucky. My mom is the most loving, nurturing, example of what a mother should be, including the “unconditional love” part. I don’t think there’s anything on this green earth I could do to shake that love….she might not like me, but she’ll always love me.
On the flip side, my stepmother is also not the typical evil stepmother you might read about. She’s somewhat of a task master, but a very loving and compassionate version. She taught middle school children from as far back as I can remember, so there’s no pulling the wool over her eyes – I didn’t get away with anything!
My father, he was the man I will always hope to be, but will never be. It’s a bit hard writing about dad because I miss him so very much – he died at the age of 71 years old, not but a few years after he retired to enjoy life. Sometimes life just isn’t fair, but I guess in the end thats about the only thing we can count on. Life just isn’t fair.
