Never Alone In Seclusion

I've never had a welcoming committee before, let alone one that arrived after I got home.

Yesterday I got back home from my two week stay in Texas. As I was heading to my door, eager to get inside and rest my weary self, my sister drives up. The doors of her car open and my two nieces, plus their friend, pop out and unfold big "Welcome Back" and "we missed you" signs they had made. My tiredness momentarily faded, replaced by warmth and comfort.

They would've been in the driveway by the time I got home, but my mom fell asleep instead of giving them the signal. That didn't matter, though, the message still hit home. As my nieces ran up to hug me a thought entered my head. What these signs, the work, and the thought that went into them told me- assured me, rather- is that no matter what I'll never be alone when it comes to family. Whether I'm across town, or in Texas, my family will always be close to me.

Distance is deceiving.