I’m sitting at our dinner table, my dad seated to my right, and my mom seated to my left. It is my last night here before I depart for Vienna. Upon my request, my sister is making her delectable molten chocolate lava cakes. And even though she claimed the standard rule of “You cook, I clean” prior to baking, I was content. As some of you may know, my sister is extremely gifted in performing arts, as I consider her a triple threat in singing, dancing, and acting. To accompany her baking, she plugged in her speakers and began singing the all-too-familiar songs to several Broadway musicals. Due to my sister’s continuing presence in the performing arts, my family have become particularly proficient in knowing the lyrics to many Broadway tunes. So you can only infer that when “Seasons of Love” from RENT came humming from the speakers, we all began to break out in song. Now let the record show that I never said that it sounded pretty (sorry Dad.) But that is not why I am writing about this experience.
This is my family. Sitting around the dinner table at 8pm on a Monday night, somewhat harmonizing to Broadway musical songs, while contentedly eating chocolate lava cakes, paired with vanilla ice cream. I will miss this family, too. Although I will be making many new memories and experiencing unforgettable things, these times spent with my family are unique and unlike any other. I hope everyone is able to share special moments like the one I shared with my family last night. And yes, I am sure some of you are thinking that a fam-singing session is not an ideal experience, but this is something more than ideal for me. Though the singing may not have been perfect like Derek and his weird family in Step Brothers, it was a small moment that I will not forget. A moment filled with laughter and high spirits. A moment of pure selflessness and togetherness.
Thank you for everything Mom, Dad, Hunter, and Jenna! See you soon.
