SammyDaddy's mention of extended family is appropos ... clearly, we are that. We have, as he observed, some little internal feuds from time to time, but on the whole, the care and regard that are exhibited for one another are remarkable, even by those who try to mask their care and regard with humor or with brusqueness ...
I've received personal e-mails today from more than one person in our group who each described to me, his reaction to some packages of cigars sent by others in the group ... that had arrived for him ... I was struck by the similarity in the messages ... each writer spoke of being humbled and overwhelmed by the generosity of others as well as having experienced rather strong emotions upon recognizing the extent of the generosity shown to him by others ... and they were not talking about the same gift givers ....
That, to me, speaks volumes about the nature of our group and I'm sincerly humbled to simply be part of a group that contains people of such high caliber ...
Wish I'd thought of how to say all that in my card ... it IS what I was thinking ...