"All families are dysfunctional," said Father Tom Belczak in his homily today. His point is that if we truly believe that Jesus is God became man, then, we also believe that "The Holy Family" was fashioned and behaved like all families do. Like all families, there were good times as well as bad times, failures and successes, always bound with love.
All my life, I have longed for family. Family became an obsession as well as a compulsion - always with my eye on the ideal! I feel rather foolish but I continue to connect and search as well as love.
I have my blood families - my mother's side: Rivera, Montecillo, de la Cruz (Lola Bette is a de la Cruz from Kalibo, Aklan), Menchavez, Elliott, etc., my father's side: Rojo, Oro, Loyola, etc., my children's side: Rankine, Ouellette, Fitch, etc.
I have my family of choice. Folks I care for very much; folks I felt cared for me very much; folks I came to know and love through the years from Catmon to Vallejo to Naha to Paducah to Long Beach to Christchurch to Ejido Rancho Nuevo and Ejido Santa Maria to Garden City, Plymouth, Livonia and Northville, to San Francisco and the Bay Area; folks who allowed me the privilege of sharing joys and tears, struggles and successes.
Most of all, folks who have accepted me and allowed me to be - no apologies, no conditions, no judgment,no punishment, no regrets, no retributions.
I am very blessed. May you be blessed also. I thank you all for being my family!
I wish you all a "Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!"
