Random Thought...

One time when I was eight, I went with my family to visit my cousins at their new house. I was playing cards with my cousin in the family room when all of a sudden it occurred to me that the house had become significantly quieter. I said to my cousin, "Molly, where are my little brothers? I don't hear them anymore." We went to search for my family when we ran into her mom who said, "Meg, you're still here?!" It immediately became clear that my entire family had left to go home... but left without me. 

They came back for me promptly, all under the guise of "We thought you wanted to stay longer..." but I knew exactly what had happened. I knew my parents had erred on the negligent side of things for that one day.

I'm not an only child, but I'm the only girl. I'm was raised under the impression that I wasn't an easily forgotten portion of our seven-person family. But it only takes the one time. Just one small reality check to know exactly where your place is in life...

From that day forward, I have religiously left my shoes next to my mom's whenever we've gone to a family member's house for a visit.