Reconnecting with Family

I went to Walmart, the most exciting thing that I do in Waco, Texas. It seems all the fun is in the neighboring big cities, I try to get away as often as possible.

But today was all about Walmart. Some people, such as my sister Laura, think that Walmart is the greatest place on Earth. I wish that I thought this way, maybe then I wouldn't miss Puerto Rico, Hawaii or California so much.

I am so lucky to have lived in the most beautiful places within the United States.

About a week ago I received a package in the mail from Laura. It was a Halloween package. I was flattered and excited that I had something that let me know that my family still thinks of me.

I must seem like a stranger to them having left home when I was 18 years old. It has been 10 years and I have never really lived within driving distance of them, a sacrifice I incurred for wanting independence and traveling.

Sometimes I feel sad, like I have missed out on their lives.

If it wasn't for living in Utah last year then moving to Hawaii to be with my parents and brothers I would be a complete stranger probably.

Still there are those family members I haven't seen in over five years, one of which is my step sister Sarah. I miss her so much it is insane.

I went searching through the isles of the greatest place on Earth, walmart when Sarah called me. It seems over the last 5 years, with me being in a very serious relationship with Frances for three years then struggling through nursing school and Sarah being married and having a ton of kids, okay only three, we just seemed to have lost touch. It is a shame because we share more than the same dad (him being my step father.)

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Summer of 2000

"Wow what a great movie!!" Sarah Ann exclaimed as we walked outside the movie theater.

"Yeah, we need to watch that Cast Away again and again," I said laughing knowing full well that we would probably go see it again tomorrow.

Sarah opened the passenger side door for me of her white 1998 Chevy Cavalier. I always thought it was odd that she did that, but it was just her thing. I suppose we both possessed our 'somethings'.

"You know," I said putting on my seat belt, "after Forrest Gump, I never thought that Tom Hanks would recover because honestly, I never thought I would be able to see him as anything but a...how do I put this nicely?"

"Retard!?" Sarah punched my arm as hard as she could. Sometimes I think that she just enjoyed hitting me on the arms as often as she could so she would look for any excuse. It was funny in a sadistic way.

"Hey!! I wasn't going to say that!" I said massaging the muscle of my deltoid.

"Yes you were Leo Ho!" Sarah yelled back with a smile. It cracked me up she gave me such a strange nickname when I was maybe 15 or 16 years old.

"Okay okay, I was really going to say.... special person." I smiled trying to recover from my obvious mistake.

"I don't believe you!" Sarah punched me in the same spot as before. "and I hope it bruises!" we both laugh.

We were sadistic girls. In fact, we were both involved in martial arts and after seeing the movie Fight Club with Brad Pitt, we both agreed that we wanted to start our own fight club.

"So I was thinking Leo Ho," Sarah put on her serious face. I always knew when we were about to have a serious conversation because the air changed.

"Yes?" I said.

"When we are older, like in 10 years or so, we should go onto a deserted tropical island for a year and try to rough it," Sarah turned the key in the ignition.

"But what if we have husbands and kids?" I said (at this time I didn't know I would be gay).

"We have to promise to do this no matter what!" Sarah said with a very serious face.

"Okay okay," I said and started tuning the radio to a good song. The Dolphins Cry by Live, it was the latest hit and I loved it.

"Serious!!" Sarah said louder as she drove us back home, "you have to promise!"

"I promise," I said knowing that probably in 10 years we will be too busy to even consider such a thing, but if she wanted it I would do it for sure.

"So we will live on a deserted island and when we get off the island we will write a book about our survival," Sarah said with conviction. I admired her passion, she had a spark about her that inspired me.

"Sounds like fun," I said with a smile.

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So it has been 10 years....and I am now reconnecting with my sister Sarah. If you would have told me 10 years ago that we would not see each other in 5 years I would have punched you in the face.

We talked for sometime and it suddenly occurred to me the promise that we made so many years ago. We could do it! Maybe not for a year but at least a weekend. I presented my plan of going to the most beautiful island in the Caribbean that I know of and camp there.

Culebra.

Sarah was exciting and enthusiastic when I told her my idea. It made me feel excited to do something with her. It seemed that time overlapped itself and we were the same people we were 10 years ago,except better versions. Time has been good to us.

We will see this coming January if it actually happens, but I am determined to do this. I need this break from reality.

Back to Walmart...

When I got off the phone with Sarah, I thought about family and felt sad that I hadn't been the kind of sister, aunt, daughter and cousin that I should be. Its time for a change....

I saw the most adorable Littlest Pet Shop figurines, two baby cats with stethoscopes. It was perfect. I remembered that I should probably send something to my sister Laura and niece since they sent me something.

I bought the figurine, something so cheap and small and yet it would make my 4 year old nieces day light up. I felt warm inside as I purchased it along with my groceries.

I also wondered how Sarah's kids are, what do they like, what are their hobbies, etc... It made me feel bad to know that I haven't even met the kids of someone I have shared so much with and been so close to, maybe the only person on this planet who fully understands my sense of humor.

I should make this a priority.