The family tree...

(My Mother on the left, my Aunt Alice on the right..circa 1920-ish)

Seems we all have some degree of pride when it comes to talking about family. We can rant and rave, get sooo angry, make fun of them and love them all in the same moment in time.

My Mother used to say her side of the family - the Sullivan's- were "Lace Curtain Irish"....Which I imagine, is the best kind, wouldn't you think?

My Daddy's side - the Sullivan's - were, according to my Mother "Damn Shanty Irish"..... Which I imagine, is not the best kind, I would think....

And yes, they were both Sullivan's - which I have written about previously. Two separate clans ( we made sure we weren't going to have to play that banjo theme from "Deliverance"at every family gatehring........)

I was reminded of this little scenario today when April sent me this joke...

A little girl asked her mother, "How did the human race appear?"

The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children and then all mankind was made."

Two days later the girl asked her father the same question.

The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"

The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

I know I have beliefs...both spiritual and scientific. But I have been know to want to take the best of two things and combine them - so as not to have to choose - Like, I was raised Catholic and I now live in a Mormon state.

There are some things I love about the Catholic religion and some I love about the Mormon religion. So I tell people I'm "Mortholic" - that way I can have the best of both worlds.

I'll bet God wouldn't be angry at me for that...probably would go "Huh...I guess that'd be OK"..

and leave it at that.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could always "pick & choose"?

"I'll have the steak....and the chicken..."

Favorite color? I choose green....and yellow...

Crunchy or smooth? Yes....

Dog or cat? AhHuh..

I am Damn-Shanty-Lace-Curtain-Irish...and I'm happy about that. And I think God is too.

After all, He has sent me flowers, and puppies, and snow at Christmas. He has whacked me on the side of the head when I needed a good whacking...And He has sent His angels to constantly watch over me ....

(Actually, I think I am His favorite...but don't tell my sisiters.....Shhhh.....)

So, the next time you're asked to choose just one way, or thing, or idea or though or belief, take the time to think about it. There is more than one way of looking at life...make it what YOU want it to be.

As Mr. B and I always say as we go off to sleep...Sweet Dreams!

-me