Since I moved to the USA, I have carried my family and my memories of times past in my back pocket or wherever my cell phone and internet location happens to be. Like Visa, I never leave home without them; they travel the world with me, in my thoughts and in the social media posts we share. Physically away, they still have the same impact on my life that they used to when we were together, and we give each other space to learn and roam.
The conversations we hold on and offline proof that we can influence each other through the distance and that we are honest and sincere because we know we are important to each other so the silence doesn’t bother us. We are all busy doing oir own thing. It’s not about the quantity of time we spend together or on the phone but the quality of those talks. I wish more people had healthier connections with their families of origin, that they didn’t get passive-aggressive voicemails about calling more often or reminders of how ungrateful the kid is because they left. Selfish people raise selfish children; you can’t escape your nurture and nature.
My family saves. They cooperate and they gossip like the best of them. We have our ups and downs which we manage to endure with poise and grace. I am stunned when my peers describe their family circles as full of drama, resent and trash talk. Never have we ever witnessed the adults lose their minds over a meal, disrespecting and cussing each other out. Whenever a problem emerges we work through it. We pool resources together and find the best solution possible.
We are third generation college educated. After serving in Korea, My grandfather was the first one to go to college and get some piece of paper certifying him as an electrician and technician. He made it all the way to supervisor of an Eli Lilly plant. My mom followed suit, graduated with a BA in teaching and enlisted in the Armed Forces. To spare me the need to enlist, mom saved for my college education. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and thanks to my employer, a Masters in Medical Engineering. My husband is also a third generation college grad. His dad is a doctor and his mom has a BA in Literature. His grandad, who is 101 and very much alive, served in WWII and Korea. His grandma has a degree and was a teacher for many years. Science and the arts run in our combined family.
I love the way my family loves me. They don’t burden me with a list of requirements that I can never fulfill. They teach me how to manage my assets and how to invest them, from the financial to the emotional, they help me kept it real, to keep a vested interest. The only expectation is that I find and carve out my own happiness and mission statement. As long as I have clear goals, they will help me pursue them. Even though I now have a new family to take care of, they are always willing to lend a helping hand. After all, they witness the rise of my empire. It is only fitting that they get to bask in its glory.
As we go through the peaks and valleys together, I can’t for a second not thank them for their support and strength. They are the best people I have ever known, and their influence lives on in our legacy. May everyone be blessed to have a family like mine. The Enginerds and geeks of the world are forever grateful.
Mrs. Enginerd - Nerd Whisperer 