The Kindness of Family

We moved to DC from Milwaukee partly because we were tired of the frigid cold winters, but more importantly because our family lived there. Our son and his family lived just down the street - until this summer - when they moved four hours away in Virginia. But my brother, his wife, and my sister have lived in this area for a very long time. Because of their proximity to us, it was a lot easier to check up on the folks down the block. It was a mutual thing...we stayed out of each other's faces, but we and they knew if anyone ever needed anything, there was never any question. For the last week, going on two, both my husband and I could be included in the flu epidemic numbers. We have not been out of the house for several days - until today. My husband finally felt "well enough" to venture out to the grocery store. Prior to this we cancelled first the Christmas Day lunch and now the New Year lunch with my family at our house because neither one of us wants to share this delightful thing with even a worst enemy. They all asked if there was anything they could do. Luckily, it hasn't been required, but it's nice to know they are there. It just feels so comforting to know we still have family around us. And it's something to be grateful for, and not taken for granted, in the new year.