Today in class, I offered “nostalgia” as a developmental characteristic of life after 50. The professor replied, “Can you define that neurobiologically? It’s one of my favorite words!” All I could reply was, “Which one? Nostalgia, or Neurobiologically?”. Silly professors. :) Who cares what the definition is - what’s more important is to enjoy the soothing effect of nostalgia even at age 25, and hope to keep track of all the diverse memories being made now, let alone those of the distant past. Apparently nostalgia means an “aching to return home”, and I think this can certainly apply to the future.
Enough about me. This summer, quality time was shared with each immediate family member. Now that we’re a whole region away, again, I’m realizing how exciting each person’s life-stage is right now, and how lucky I am to have such a ridiculously dynamic family narrative going on at all times. As you may know, this balance can quickly tip toward painful chaos and challenging stress, but for now I am totally enthralled with each person’s options and optimism. Every sibling and parent is facing far more open-ended and highly exciting life-choices than I can say so for myself right now (school is such a predictable conveyor belt…). It’s just like nostalgia, only future-oriented. Without airing everyone’s intimate biographical laundry, I’d like to shout out the key things for each person with which I’m fascinated at the moment. I’ll also keep this Collins-limited (+Jon), because the Greenes are just about the most stable family I’ve ever met and although things still change, they’re almost always in a lovely routine.
Katie: Youngest of all siblings, and quickly replacing me as the most traveled (jealous!). She and I have had very similar academic experiences at certain ages, though she’s certainly redefining the youthful capacity to travel by hitting up FOUR continents in one year. I love following her adventures and reminiscing of my own. She literally has the world ahead of her, and I like to describe her future career as being in some form of cultural brokerage. After a previous summer focused entirely on German language, she’s now gathering Spanish fluency in Guatemala (after a spring trip to Japan, and July study in El Salvador) and will hustle to Germany for a full-semester State Dept. internship this fall. Who does that?! As she would say, no big deal.
Kristen: The freshly dubbed Mrs. Collins-Garrity is so close to being a full-fledged nurse she can taste it AND so close to being a fresh resident in her and Patrick’s first mortgaged house! We Collins’ sure aren’t afraid of commitments. When I explain to new friends that I married at 24 and my sister did at 22, I sometimes disclose that we are not very conservative but rather very confident in decision-making and lovers of long-term commitments. I’m impressed by her convictions, and so glad to have a vibrant model of young modern domesticity.
Sarah: The eldest daughter of my father is tying the knot this November and about to be the mother of two full-time school-aged children! I can’t believe Austin’s already in kindergarten, and that Autumn is reading fluently and becoming a karate master all at the tender age of 7. Sarah is very familiar with the ups and downs of having a ‘high-energy’ (read: chaotic, unpredictable) family, and I love following along as her own young family grows and changes. Welcome aboard, Jimmy!
Dad: I am so proud of my Dad for pushing forward with strength and peacefulness through a very surprising year, and being dedicated to new goals and accomplishments. He does a great job of explaining the futility of grudges and anger, and despite frustrating circumstances, I really believe this will turn out to be a very productive and proud year for him. Not to mention having three of four daughters marry within 18 months, he’s got a lot going on for himself, and nothing holding him back. :)Mom: If you know this woman, you’ll understand what I mean by ‘dynamic’ and ‘high energy’ as adjectives that can mean triumph one day and despair the next. She is a passionate person and seems to be seeking personal improvement and health with new vigor this year. I’m proud of her willingness to find creative solutions to shortfalls, and to continue being one of the more resourceful individuals I know.
Jon: I’m not yet comfortable with how a husband gets classified as an immediate family member, but I’m sure it will make more sense post-pro-creation…in many years. :) My favorite response to the often asked question, “So, what does your husband do?” is “Future BrewMaster, current Software Engineer.” This man can focus on a task like no one else I know, and whether he chooses to use this manpower toward programming or brewing, his work always yields the highest quality product and most excellent feedback. He may not be so thrilled by the idea of predicting a ‘5-year plan’, but I am confident that his options are unlimited and whichever field holds his professional attention in the future is a very lucky one indeed.
I’m quite lucky, too.
