Family?

I think my parents are both trying very hard. The holidays have been really good so far, though there was conflict. Even my mom's family was pretty openly enjoyable. I think everybody's trying to forgive and move on. I don't feel so threatened by my mom's new family and the prospect of "blending" into it so much anymore, although I don't imagine it the way that she does, I'm sure. I could have a friendship with these girls, although I can't guarantee a sisterhood. I don't even have that with most of my friends -- just those I have the most history and the most vulnerability with. I'm finding peace in the midst of it, though I don't envy my dad's situation with Lori's kids. None of us wants to blend there, and that seems to be the only thing that actually connects us all. Her oldest son seems like the only one of her kids who has retained any peace and common sense in this whole thing. I dunno. It's a bit scary, still.

Coming back to this note a few days later, yeah, the tensions are coming back, but we're handling it the way any ordinary family would, I think. That's good, right? It has to be.