Humour 2025

“There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.”  Erma Bombeck

This week’s topic is apt as we are racing towards the silly season and for some, this quote may be so true for many of us.

Unfortunately, Christmas can bring mixed feelings for those who do not have a so called “normal family” experience.  Not all families are like those in the Hallmark movies and for many of us, life is not so traditional or exist in a “happy place”.  It is also at times, difficult to celebrate when you have lost your family member(s) and life is not so good.

I have been fortunate over the years and have celebrated occasions with our blended family, that found us.  This exists of my family (husband and adult sons) along with two other families. The now adult children have all grown up together and played sports – both together and/or against each other.   We have celebrated many events over the past nineteen years together; Christmas, birthdays, weddings and the births and arrival of grandchildren.  We have also experienced grief, both loss of life and adverse events.

We have laughed and cried together over the years, through the good times and the not so good.  We have all watched the children grow into the adults that they are now and celebrated their achievements as one. 

When we were in Tasmania recently, we even caught up with one of the adult children from the other family.  That’s what we do.

Last week, many of my family were in Melbourne and whilst there – we caught up with family members from both families for dinner and trips to a market.  It is always fun to catch up together and laugh at life and life’s events.  We all did enjoy telling of funny events from the night prior to the others and yes, they also saw the humour in the situation. 

We have once again organised the family Christmas event for those who are able to attend, our door is open this year.  If the adult children are in the region, they know our door is always open for them and especially on Christmas day.  It doesn’t matter where they reside, or how long they have been away – we always catch up as time does not exist.  They are the family we have chosen and continue to choose, despite what life throws at us.

Who or what do you call your family? 

PS: the photo is of one of our many shared meals together.