Pops Peterson: Impressions of a Life Well Spent | Our State Magazine

Pops Peterson: Impressions of a Life Well Spent Our State Magazine

This article is about my paternal grandfather, whom I have never met, or at least not at an age which I can remember. It brings to mind some interesting thoughts about family.
 I am related by blood to lots of people, but I am only close to two - my own children. Mostly it's due to actual distance. I haven't lived near any of my blood relatives for decades. I also did not grow up with my brothers or my parents after the age of 10 (I was raised by my maternal grandparents). I often wonder how that has influenced the person that I am. I think I am still trying to figure out what makes a lasting relationship between people. I know it isn't simply relation. It requires concentrated effort, engagement, and genuine interest in others. It is tough to do from a distance, and I think that's why long-distance relationships of any kind are super-tough to maintain. Out of sight, out of mind, seems pretty true in my experience.
I hope that there are people in your life that are close to you in all ways and whom you love whether blood related or not. Ultimately, the relationships we forge and foster are all we have to sustain us through life.