Now that is stuck in your head, isn't it? Go on, tap your foot, finish singing the song in your head - I will wait!
I watched Oprah today and saw the Osmond Family (all 100 of them) sing, dance, crack jokes and honor their father who passed away this week. It was touching, really, it was. I was a fan of the old Donny and Marie show - I remember looking forward to Friday nights, sitting engrossed for the hour, all the celebrity guests, the songs, the funny skits. It was truly good family fun. And how sweet to have them all on the show today - even though only days ago their father had passed away. They have that "the show must go on" mentality and they did not let us down. I had tears in my eyes just watching them and the love that they have for one another. As an only child, I am completely and unashamedly envious of their large family. I would love to have a sibling or two - to share memories with and grow old with. It is incredibly funny to me that those I know who actually have large families (or even one or two siblings) wish sometimes that they were "onlys" like me. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. As I watched the Osmonds today and realized that for them, both parents are gone, and yet they do still have each other. They can find people in the world who were raised in the same household, with the same memories and who hold the same love and experiences with their parents. An only child, on the other hand, is truly alone when both parents pass on. I will have no one with which to share all of our jokes, our past experiences, our memories of Christmas, birthdays, etc. Now, before you say it, I know that I will not be truly alone, I have my own family now and old friends, and a lifetime of memories to share with them, but it did make me just a little sad - to think of myself, technically alone.
I remember when I put my parents on a plane to Rome, Italy for one of their extended visits a few years ago - all I could think of was that plane held my whole world. I shuddered as I stood there in the breezeway and watched it lift off into the blue sky. All I could do was pray that the two people who mean the most in the world to me would land safely and return home safely. I didn't want to be an orphan then, and I still don't. My life as an only child has been wonderful -I have had privileges that most do not get to experience. I have no ugly quarrels or battles with siblings in my future - but sometimes I long for a big brother (or sister) to help me through this life when my parents are no longer here.
Now, in case you are thinking I am morbid or morose, I am not - just thinking of the distant future and whining a bit. My parents are happy and healthy and I really think we will all be together when Jesus comes back - but if not, I will miss them when they are gone, I will never get over the loss and I will be leaning heavily on my closest friends when that time comes. My closest friends are my siblings - we won't be fighting over a will, but I will need their strength. That is the blessing of being an only child - we get to choose our siblings and still get the only child benefits! So, old friends - welcome to the family - hands off the china - but thanks (ahead of time) for the future shoulder when I am going to need it.
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