"Vroom Vroom, California!"

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." -Jane Howard

We took a final family fieldtrip,

a last one before we all have to grow up.

Once I step on that plane to Japan,

I'll begin my career.

And once I fly back home to Utah,

our little clan of six will become seven.

Cousin Joey and I drew pictures together.

{We both prefer doodling animals over people. It's just easier.}

He was my chummy every afternoon and evening,

whether we were curled up playing Pokemon

or eating rabbit legs {which broke my heart clean in two},

he stayed by my side.

I'm grateful for the grins,

and the memories made in California,

the ones I'll take with me on the plane.

And even though family crucibles may wedge our band of six apart,

family holidays pull us back together, if only for a little while.