Kindred Spirits.

A little revelation and appreciation occurred today. You see, I'm amidst my final exams that signal the end of my high school career and the beginning of the rest of my LIFE and with no consideration to my being chained to a desk and heads in books, my mom drops the bomb this morning that we will be attending a family braai.

For those reading not part of the South African culture, here's your first lesson:

BRAAI- perhaps known as a Barbecue or barbeque??

A very popular social activity in South Africa. Very often partnered with red wine for the ladies and a good ol' beer for the men. Mostly triggered by a game of rugby where the men will sit, coach and shout profanities at the oblivious players and the women will watch the kids in the pool and rant about the "hardships" of being superwomen. Lots of red meat on a weber in essence. 


Anyway the family braai was attended and man oh man, was I grateful.
Aged pictures of the past years don the walls. The room is filled with people that share the same DNA, same genealogy, same... Well same everything. They grab onto your sense of humuor. You laugh at the memories of growing up as you watch the parents become slightly tipsy and us teens laugh at their "immaturity". And I realised:
When kindred spirits are united under any circumstance; Christmas, a family death or a little family braai, there is a sense of completion within (the risk of sounding cliche) your inner being. Yes, I sometimes cannot stand them but they're the only people in the world you know have no choice but to remain by your side no matter what atrocity hits. I walked away this evening buzzing with laughter endorphins, refreshed and already to tackle the studies once more. If I was sitting in heaven and had the opportunity to CHOOSE my family, I probably would have chosen people with personalities similar to my friends that I consider my "unbiological family" but never have they given me such a loving and completeness that I experienced tonight.

If anyone reads this... Take the time before Christmas to catch up with the grandmother or take the cousins out for a little outing. It really does work wonders to such an extent it get my second blog post position.

Here is a little collage of my sister, my mom, my brother and I. 

You don't choose family but goodness, they're chosen for you for a reason.