It was disquieting to hear, and downright frightening to realize, that I am considered the “Matriarch” of our family. Thus, when I was asked to write the introduction for our family re-union website, I knew I was totally unprepared to impart any words of wisdom. I dwelled for some time on the meaning of family in general and of our family in particular.

I reviewed the literature for quotes about family, and I think Marge Kennedy’s comment, ‘The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us all to become our best while looking our worst." Is perhaps most salient. Of course, the myriad of quotes portraying LOVE as the key ingredient for any closely connected family are also relevant.

As for our family, the Canterbury’s are a close-knit clan. Even today at 79 years of age many of my happiest times are spent in the company of my brothers and sisters and their children. We spend many vacations together and my own children are very fond of their aunts, uncles and cousins. Surely no one can evoke a deep belly laugh from me like one of these people, and I consider laughter an essential ingredient to a satisfying life.

I don’t mean to give the impression that we are a homogeneous group of people who share similar social or political views, quite the opposite. Some of our family members are arch-conservatives and others have that liberal laid back, feels good persona. It certainly leads to interesting debates and forced lessons in tolerance.

I do consider it the greatest of fortune to have grown up in a large, loving, raucous, Texas family. Our parents (children of the Great Depression) instilled in each of their children and grandchildren the value of family and the importance of honest hard work. They practiced these preached values by always making our wellbeing their top priority while working tirelessly to build several successful businesses, literally from nothing. The Canterbury work ethic has always been tempered with a work hard, play hard philosophy which has led to many memorable and some best untold antics.

I look forward to our family re-union, but I offer Ashleigh Brilliant’s caution, “If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion.” And remember that Siblings are children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together.

Janet Senior