Family, what does it mean to you?  Memorable moments around the dinner table?  Trips together?  Parents that love each other?  For me family is all this and so much more.  From time-to-time I’m reminded how much I value it.  They say you don’t appreciate what you have until it is gone, I don’t know if that is true.  It isn’t for me. Somehow from a young age I learned what family could do for you and I never let go of that notion.  I recall my brother making fun of me at dinner and me getting in trouble for it, but somehow that never really upset me.  I was glad for that time because at least I had a brother.   I never had a sister but I’m sure that would have had an immense impact on me as a person too.  Who knows what I’d have become had I a sister in my home.  

I recall my older brother bringing girls home when I was about 9 years old, he was 19 and I remember him bragging on my mom’s tacos, “You have to try my mom’s tacos.”  I somehow remembered that always.  Funny thing is my mother cooks some amazing southern dishes, black eyed pees, fried okra, cornbread and more.  Tacos?  But it’s true, she taught me how to cook an authentic taco, deep fried shells with the cheese melted in.  But that is another story.

Eventually I too brought girls home and I too wanted them to try my mom’s tacos.  

Then there is my father.   He was someone I always thought of as SuperMan.  He had a speed boat and he used to take ...   more »