It Was Crowded In There
This picture makes me laugh.
It also makes me pretty danged happy. I mean, not just from the laughing. Actually, it’s not really the picture that makes me happy. Y’know what, lemme start over.
The fact that that picture could be taken makes me happy. There.
Now, this picture makes me happy.
I have it on my desk because of that. My four favorite people are in it. You’ve got Steph, my sister, on the far left, Tim, her husband, on the far right, and then of course me and Mel in the middle. They’re awesome, totally balls out slamtastic. Except Mel got there kinda late in the game. But that’s okay.
See, Steph and Tim were sort of my “in” crowd. Whenever I was having fun, odds were good that I was having it with them. Still, it was hard not to feel like a third wheel from time to time. Steph and Tim had their relationship, and I came by to visit. When it was just the three of us, Steph, Tim, and myself, it was good, but I felt a little, I dunno, out of place sometimes? Not their fault, things were good, I couldn’t complain that much. Good thing I met Mel, though.
Something spiffy happened when Mel joined the group. Steph and Tim loved her right off the bat, which relieved the hell out of me. Years ago, I made Steph promise me that, if I ever got involved with a girl she didn’t like, she’d say something. Steph was my official objector, there to save me from my own bad judgment, and she retired from her duties that night.
The group became complete because of Mel. These people are more than just my friends. They’re my family– Or, all right, well, Steph and Tim are my family. I should explain. I don’t see my family family very much. I don’t get along with my parents, I kind of avoid them, and that alienates me a little bit from my extended family. I’m okay with that, really. I’m not crazy about having a lot of people around, so it works out for me, in an odd way.
Those relatives of mine are my relatives; Steph and Tim were my best friends; but Steph, Tim, and Mel are my family, the people who mean the most to me. We can be stupid together — that’s important. We can meet up, forget what it means to take anything seriously, and just enjoy life when we’ve all got each other around. Having a family again is why the picture I showed you makes me happy, and that, above all else, is why I’m so glad that Mel agreed to marry me just a moment ago.