Yay Family!

This year, being so far from friends and family, we were fortunate enough to have one member of the clan here for Thanksgiving.  Legs' cousin Golfer, son to Ms. Ravenna, was able to make it down from New York University to stay with us for a few days, and enjoy a great Thanksgiving dinner.  Something about the holiday season, it just made it a little more enjoyable having a familiar face to share it with.  We've lucked out with several visits from Golfer, who has always been a great house-guest and an amazing cousin/uncle to Thumper!

As many of you know, we were able to Skype with most of our family gatherings spread out across the Northwest.  It certainly wasn't as nice as sitting across the table from one another, but we're truly grateful that technology gave us the opportunity to see each of your smiling, pixilated faces on Thanksgiving.  It also made me happy to see so many members of our families united for a day to enjoy each other's company.

Unfortunately holidays that we will be able to physically attend will likely be few and far between given the life that we have chosen, but keep hope!  Some day, a midst our travels from one post to the next, the stars will align and somehow home-leave will happen to fall on a chunk of days that contain some obscure holiday like Groundhog's Day or Super Bowl Sunday, and we will say, "Oh, you're having a get-together for Groundhog's Day?  Sure, we can make it.  We'll see you at 5!"  For a moment, it will be just as if we lived up the street and popped by like we would on any other special occasion, until home-leave ended and our little family whooshed away on a plane set for Reykjavik, or Ho Chi Minh City, or perhaps Wellington.  Not knowing what the future holds for us is part of the excitement.

Later this week Grandma Mir Mir will be arriving for a month-long visit!  We're very excited to have her here, and Thumper, although he doesn't quite understand it yet, is in for a treat.  Grandma Mir Mir sends Thumper videos, Jibjab cards, and they Skype often, to the point were Thumper recognizes her face on the computer screen or iPad.  His "Grandma" is just sort of an elongated "Mama" but there is a clear distinction, which probably only Legs and I can hear, when he sees a picture or video of her.  We're so happy that he, and us, will get this time to spend with her before we leave for India.

Happy Travels!

Pancho