Understanding The Significance of Family

No family is perfect. We argue, we fight. We even stop talking to each other at times, but in the end family is family. The love will always be there. In life as we all know people come and go. But one day they will go for good. And one day you wish they would come back just for a minute so you could give them the last hug. Or you are willing to do anything to just hear their voice one more time. But sometimes things happen to soon. Sometimes you could be having an amazing 3 month summer vacation and at the end it could all be ruined.

In the summer of 2013, we left Minnesota in May to go to the Middle East for a vacation. We stayed for 3 months. I’m not going to lie it was an amazing summer. But sometimes things do not just stay amazing, especially in life something comes up and ruins everything and it can be a matter of hours, minutes or seconds. Sometimes even a surprise. But sometimes those surprises can hurt and they can hurt a lot. As a child growing up I had an uncle from my mom's side that I truly loved. He also loved us too. His loved girls. He would always love to play with us and tell us stories and we would get so attached to him! Every holiday he would come over and make us so excited! That summer was also his daughter’s weddings. He had two daughters getting married that summer and everybody was so excited. Because he would come to all the family members wedding. We were all ready for this wedding. We all gave a helping hand. As in helping the bride and the Brides family! At the end the wedding was all ready. And so was the family. Sadly though my family was not going to be able to watch it because it was a week after I travel back to the USA. So we were a little bit sad but we knew she was going to have a lifetime full of happiness and my uncle was going to be very happy!

Sadly our 3 month vacation was over. We were getting ready to go back. We started packing. Before we left a day before my very beloved uncle came to say good bye. He came over very happy. But he was not only say good bye to us he was also saying goodbye to the whole family. He came over and we had a good time. Everybody laughing. Telling childhood stories with my mom and aunts. Reminding us about how beautiful life is and whatever happens we should always stay strong. But his visit was coming to an end. He shouted and said "Everybody come today let me say good bye"... He was not able to leave till he saw the entire family. As I said goodbye to him, he kissed my forehead and said take care, you never know what happens in life. I felt really weird. Like usually this is not the way people say goodbye. Suddenly he gave me a warm hug and said this could be the last time I see you guys so take care of yourself and your family! It is as if he already knew or felt that he was going to go forever. That night I slept very sad. Like I just wanted to spend my last night hanging out with him.

Morning of August 18 we got up early at 10:30am to get ready to leave from Palestine to Jordan. We were all ready to leave. But some of my family members came over to say goodbye, so we did not leave till 1:30pm. At 12:30 I asked my mom if she could call my uncle and she said “sure”, so she gave him a call but sadly he did not answer and it was time for us to get ready to leave! I was hoping for a call back but I did not get one back! So we left Palestine and it takes 5 hours to get from Palestine to Jordan. And the whole time I was in the bus I was so sad. I wanted to go back just to see him one more time! He is my favorite uncle. As soon as we got to Jordan, we saw everybody standing outside in black. Everybody looked so sad and stressed out. As we got out of our car everybody got around us and looked at us in silence. And told us to go inside and relax, but my mom forced them to say what's wrong

As they looked at us in silence. One of our uncles said “your beloved uncle has passed away!” “RIP” I was in shocked and everything fell out of my hands. My cousin helped me go inside. My mom was so sad and my aunts that lived in Jordan. We walked into their house with so much sadness and tears. Nobody was able to speak. We came back from Palestine and everybody that lived in Jordan was getting ready to go back to Palestine to stand with his kids and wife, and to go bury him! That day I wished I have stayed there just one more day! We could not believe what we heard! He was so happy for his daughter’s wedding! It’s like he knew he was going to leave the world. The day we arrived, nobody wanted to eat or talk. All they did was remember memories even, my cousin who spent summer there came over and told us that he took her to his parent’s grave and told her that “This is where I will be buried”. We felt like he felt he was ready to go! We honestly all looked up to him! When there was a problem in the family we all would ask him to come and fix it. He was all about happiness and loving. He cared about everyone and wanted to help everyone! Till this day we all remember what he would do and be inspired from him. It’s an important event. No, not because he died. But because he was very young he was in his early 50’s and he was a very very healthy man but he had a sudden heart attack that surprised everyone. His daughter was going to get married. His death is a painful memory. But as they say “Life moves on” but it was a challenge to move on.

Family means too much. Friends are too valuable. And life is too short to put-off sharing with people, how much they mean to you. And how much their happiness is all what you aim for in life! Hold your loved ones close because you never know when the last time is you will be able to hug them or even just hear their voice! Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, and love leaves a memory no one can steal. Always forgive people you love and you should always leave loved one with loving words it may seriously be the last time you see them! Family are the people who are willing to be there for you every second and every time you need it. Regardless of all the silly things families go through we always should and will stand together through thin and thick!