Party of Five.

I come from a family of the dramatic.

The passionate.
The romantic.
The zealous.
The fiery.
The dreaming.
The believing.
The fierce.

And, I say that with ammo in my hands, mind, and heart.

There is something about a birthday. Your birthday. Something that will always make you think, reflect, and ponder your past or your future...but never really your present.

But, this year? Today, I sat in my present. In the presence of those special souls I call my family.

Thankful.

I'm thankful for a family that has taught me passion, romance, zeal, fire, dreaming, belief, and ferocity.

There are none like that nucleus of four that I call my family. 

My mother-the one with the heart of gold. She breathes in other peoples' pain, only to exhale compassion and safety. She just makes you feel better. Always. It's not in her DNA to make you feel anything different.

My father-the one who cares more than he knows how to say. He has taught me the lesson of what Henry David Thoreau would say, "Live the life you have imagined." He taught me dedication. He believes to be fulfilled, go for it. Go for it all.

My brother-the one who is full of zeal and passion. He is more than a success, he is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Trust me, ten times out of ten, you want him in your corner.

My sister- the one that I don't know how to put into words on most days. She is the passionate, beautiful, fierce one who dreams more than most. And believes more than most. Even when you don't believe. She does.

And for all four of these souls I get to call my family, I say, hallelujah. There just really aren't any other people on this earth like them.

They are my fighting force.

They are the ones who have taught me how to love beyond measure.
They are the ones who have taught me how to fight without restraint.

They are always a party.

Always a party of five.

-S