Embracing Differences: A Month of Family, Travel, and Reflection

August has been a whirlwind of activity for me, marked by back-to-back trips to visit family. Two weekends ago, I traveled to Arizona for a brief visit with my parents. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a quick trip from Friday to Monday turned into a challenging experience when I fell ill. By Saturday, I was already feeling unwell, but Sunday was especially miserable. Traveling while sick is never easy, and the thought of possibly passing on whatever bug I had to my parents made the situation even harder. It's been two weeks, and I still don't feel completely back to normal. My main concern during that time was doing everything I could to avoid getting my parents sick.

Last weekend, Gregg and I headed to his hometown in Illinois. This trip highlighted the differences between our families. While my parents now live in a place I never called home, Gregg's roots are firmly planted in one small town. Four of his siblings still live in the town where they grew up, whereas my siblings and I are spread out across North and South America. Our family homes were scattered, and we grew up in different parts of the country, which means we rarely have the chance to get together. The last time all my brothers and sisters gathered was in 2018. Gregg's family, on the other hand, makes it a point to reunite every year.

Another difference between us is our connection to the past. Gregg's family regularly visits cemeteries, honoring their loved ones multiple times a year. In contrast, I didn't visit a grave until I was over 18, and that was at a funeral. These differences might seem significant to some, but for us, what matters most is that we respect and acknowledge them. While Gregg and I are alike in many ways, we are not the same. And that's something I cherish because it keeps our relationship dynamic and full of learning opportunities. If we agreed on everything, life would be so much more boring.