Think Different, Act Different, Be Different

It has been 4 years since the whole family got together for a holiday!

Situations have changed, of course. One major difference --- the kids are in their 20s....and we in our 50s.
Now as we gather as a family, it's no longer Dad doing all the planning (although he's still doing all the paying!). It's no longer Mum packing/unpacking for everyone; it's no longer kids wanting to poo and pee at inconvenient times and place.

We were 5 grown adults, each responsible for his/her own things (too bad if you forgot to pack in enough underwear --- no one else is going to lend you his/hers!) yet all taking care of each other.
The drivers drove with special care because precious lives are in their hands.
The photographers made sure the pictures taken had no toes or legs chopped off.
The cooks prepared meals that filled bellies with burps and mouths with praises.

Where to go, what to do, when to do....we learned to respect one another's passion and preference and go along with it.
It was great!

For me, personally, I saw myself growing with the kids.
Gone are the years doing play dough.... swimming in the baby pool ....making sand castles and sculptures on the beach.....playing make-believe..... reading storybooks with sound-effects.....going on the merry-go-round.....

Now come the days of sitting together watching news on TV, commenting on Sports, World affairs, Investments, .....growing together in the gymn, swimming laps and snorkelling, climbing rocks and carved out mountains, walking in the forest.....appreciating nature, building memories, celebrating people.

At the end of the holiday, I felt like Steve Martin in the movie "Cheaper By the Dozen" and I proposed that we start a family tradition--- once a year, our family (nuclear or expanded like when they are married and leave home) will make time for each other and holiday together.

Let's toast to it!!!