Columnists
F-Day
Come on! On January 1st we all hoped 2026 would be better than 2025, much better. I know I thought it has to get better because how much worse than 2025 could 2026 ever be? Now, don’t get me wrong, 2025 wasn’t a complete dumpster fire. Our families made it so much better than it really was. I’m sure we all had good times throughout the year, but here we are. It’s half-past February and as it turns out, 2026 is just more of the same times one beejillion. I had comforted myself thinking by February the world’s uneasy relationship with the USA will have settled down. It hasn’t even slowed down, let alone settled anywhere decent. We’re still being dazzled by some kind of hellish perversion of the truth and getting a queasy feeling about how deep the corruption goes in the White House. I suppose I should be asking myself why I care. I just do. Like a lot of all y’all, I am spiritually and emotionally exhausted from the media stories about corruption, abuse of power and inhumane behaviour for personal and financial gain that currently defines our to-the-south neighbour. On top of the avalanche of horror stories coming out of the USA, we are dealing with extraordinary winter weather which just doesn’t seem to let up. I don’t know about you, but I’m done with snow, paralyzing cold, those ill winds, redactions, assaults and whiteouts.
So, as I write this, it is Family Day. The most powerful thing I’ve learned in my fifty-plus years of living in The County is that family doesn’t have to mean blood relatives only. Although, if you are a true County person you’re probably related to just about every other County person, one way or another. I didn’t understand the deep familial connections at first, but now I embrace them. I have seen the light—so to speak. Family Day, is the day we slow down, just a little bit, and enjoy our “family” connections, whoever and wherever they are. It is the day we intentionally reach out to those people who have truly clicked with us. And, especially, we should reach out to let those folks know we care and enjoy all of the qualities which make our lives so much richer. Because I have such a large, extended family here I know I could never go back to my youthful understanding of what a family is. It surely isn’t just the parents, grandparents, siblings, etcetera. Family, to me, means all of the people who give you a hand-up when you’re way down. Family is all of the people who make you laugh, even at yourself. Family is all of the people you can chat with and don’t feel as if you’re being talked-down to. Family brings soup when you’re sick or tired or overwhelmed. Family checks in to make sure you’re warm when it’s chilly outside. Family shares the good times and lets you blather on when things ain’t so great.
Ah, Family Day! I hope you had an extra cup of coffee to toast the day. I hope you made time to let your family know you love them. I hope you take a day off from the insanity that currently defines today’s world. I hope you reread a favourite book or rewatched a favourite movie. I hope you gave yourself time to remember all of the lovely moments—and maybe not so lovely moments—that brought you closer to your chosen family. I hope you made plans to meet with family for a drink or a meal. I hope you checked your calendar to remind yourself of the important celebrations of 2026 that involve your loved ones. Family Day is the day you can stop being afraid of the diversity, complexity and departure from what we knew as the traditional, nuclear family.
Remember, like every great drink or every great meal, a spicy blend of colour, flavour and background can be wonderful. I hope your Family Day was diverse and delightful and delicious and heartwarming.
Comments (0)