Guess which one is MEEE!!

I had an awesome childhood. If I ever wanted to tell something to my mom and dad, it would be that. We may not have had a lot of money, but we had so much family, I don't remember that part at all. We were always with family. I really loved having my sister and cousins and grandparents around.

Sometimes I feel like I'm robbing my kids of the same great childhood that I had. But what can you do? We're all scattered now.

Grandpa John (pictured in the center) died this spring right before my other granpa did. I miss them more than I thought I would. They were loud, outspoken, opinionated and often crotchety. But there is definitely something missing in my visits without them.

I'm looking forward to the holidays. Even though these are the first Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays without my grandpas, I know my family. And I know that someone will find it in their hearts to drive to the liquor store, buy some booze and we can all sit around making bad jokes and talking about the ones that didn't make it home (or at least the ones who went out to get more booze). And then we'll eat and eat until we can't eat any more. Then we'll pile our fat asses into the car and go to someone else's house to eat more.

Here's to awesome families. The world would be a better place if everyone had one.