Family, we all have them but we don't all love them like we should. I mean I come from a huge family, though it was mostly my moms and aunts family that hung out thru the years. You know, Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc. I guess I can consider myself blessed in the regard that not many people with large families actually get together anymore. I mean we get together for EVERYTHING. We've even begun new family traditions so that we can get together more than most families. Like Mother's day. My cousin Chris started hosting mother's day dinner about 4 or 5 yrs ago. My sister started New Years dinner at about the same time; I’ve done it twice since my sis moved to Jersey a few years ago. I got tired of father's day just being another holiday so I started hosting father's day at my own home 2 yrs ago, my cousin Pat hosted it last year. I can’t host anything this coming year until I get a bigger place. Long story… for earlier blogs. Check the archives!

I love my family. True we don't all get along all the time (a given) but we do stick together. I’m proud of my family too. I have a published author and entrepreneur in the family.  I have another cousin who is a Harvard Law grad in the family. A nurse, and two accountants. My sister is an executive secretary in a fortune 500 company. My brother in law runs a warehouse for a construction company. Me? Well, I’m a Transportation Coordinator with the 2^nd largest Black Tie Limo service in the country. I recently was promoted to the Sony/Entertainment dept so I’m handling the transportation of the various Sony artists, A & R’s, Exec’s. I’m working on making my mark. In time, in time.

I listen to people on the job talking about their boring holidays because they have little or no family to deal with. And sometimes they do have family but just don't like them very much. I feel for them and realize how blessed I am.

The biggest challenge in life to date is being a DAD. I swear, the shit is hard as hell but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm terrified of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing that may impact them in a negative way and give them issues that they'll deal with for the rest of their lives. I go out of my way to let them know that I love them and will support them in all they do as long as it’s done with the best of their ability. I'm hard on them because I know that the world will be hard on them once they leave the nest. I want to raise educated, eclectic, sensitive yet tough women (and hopefully a son). Hell, Lanique listens to classical music already!!!! Lanique wants to be an artist and I swear she owns more drawing material than I’ve ever owned in my life. Ka'meira wants to be a boxer as far as I know since she likes hitting Lanique so much (they fight like two strange cats in a small room). But I'll encourage her if that’s what she wants to do. I spoil them rotten but I discipline the hell out off them too. That’s the hard part, giving them equal amounts of love and discipline. But I will do my best.

What do you appreciate?   Why?