What is it about family? Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the big Nicholson reunion, which only occurs about once every ten years.

Since it had been ten years since the last gathering, when my husband, children, and I first pulled into the parking lot beside the gazebo, neither of us recognized a single soul. That group of old people certainly could not be my bunch. I was looking for the young lively Nicholsons. This seemed to be a reunion for “Wheels on Meals” or some other senior-citizen-oriented gathering. I thought I’d get out and ask if this was the Nicholson crew just as a gesture, and to my surprise, the elderly bunch professed that they were indeed Nicholsons. My husband and I looked at each other like, “Oh my, what do we do now?” and we carried our potluck dishes to the gazebo. I introduced myself and sat down amongst the people.

Once we all began talking though, their Nicholsonisms became apparent. I recognized that I was in the company of family. My children noticed it too. My son commented, “I feel so comfortable around them! They are so welcoming.” I began wondering just what was it that seemed so comforting and seemed to link me with the strangers.

Even though some of us live far apart, they talk and act a little like me. They are bothered by the same things that I am bothered by. The mannerisms, the volume of their voices, their sense of humor, and the topics they chose to talk about are similar to me.

A person, who at first looked like a stranger, became familiar, and with conversations, I began to recognize many of them.

It turned out I had a wonderful time. I enjoy hearing the stories of our families, where we came from and what the family members are interested in now. Also, it always tickles me when I see somebody else’s little kid who resembles somebody else in our family.

It is strange because when I was a little girl, I never wondered how they were related, or thought it would matter much. However, the older I get the more family means to me. Friends come and go and change, but blood stays the same forever.

Anyway, Penny has added me to the Christmas letter list, and I am looking forward to keeping up with the rest of the family. As far as the family reunion goes, when it was time to leave, we Nicholsons seemed more like the “cool crowd” than a group of old people.