this might have been coerced, but it's all true

I never really write blogs about my family. I don't really have a good reason why I don't or why I haven't yet. It's not that I don't like my family. In reality, I love my family. As a matter of fact, I think I like my family now more than I ever have before. Unfortunately I don't see my family as often as I probably should.

My Mom lives just south of Portland in Tualatin, and works 3 blocks from my work. We have lunch every once in a while, and even run into one another now and again while walking through downtown. I am proud of my Mom for standing up for herself and making a career for herself in an industry that has a reputation for ageism. She's a good role model, and I can credit a lot of my finer personality traits to the way she raised me.

My Dad lives in Texas. I've never been to Texas, and the only place I've ever desired to visit in Texas (Austin) isn't really very close to where he lives. Luckily my step-mom LaNora, and my sister Adriane live southwest of Portland in Sherwood and my Dad comes to visit quite often. I think I might actually see him more now than I did when he still lived here. I feel like I missed out on much of Adriane's youth, and I have been trying to be a more involved brother. I can't believe she's a high school freshman already (my 10 year reunion is in a week), she grew up so fast. LaNora has done a great job of raising her, she's a smart girl. My Dad has also been really good lately at giving me advice over the phone regarding things like cars, finances and life in general.

My brother Jesse lives in West Salem with his wife Roxanne and their kids Aidan and Addison. My brother and I had a pretty standard relationship growing up. He's older, so he picked on me and fought with me and I tattled on him and cried when he hit me. In the last few years though, we have bonded on a much closer level. We may not have a lot in common, but I know he's always got my back. Roxanne is a great sister in law, a great wife and a great mother. She's a lot of fun, and she's always been great to me and Ally. Aidan and Addison are two of the cutest kids ever. Of course I'm biased since they're my nephew and niece/god-daughter, but really, you should see them.