people are different

i grew up in a house full of laughter.

a house full of sunshine

and a house full of connection.

every morning

all my brothers and sisters and my parents and I

would branch off into our days.

we'd go to school

we'd go to college class

we'd go to rehearsal or practice or tutoring sessions.

someone would take the little one to the baby sitter

and someone was already gone for hours at work.

we lived our lives.

every day

everyone collected back at home.

one by one by one by one

we'd walk in the door

find someone else

say hello

catch up

and then continue on.

CONNECTION came first.

"hello! i'm home!"

"okay! how was your day?"

good/bad/awesome/okay

my coach/teacher/professor/boss was in a good/bad/awesome/okay mood.

we connected.

and then split off again.

after the hello

after the "i see you, i love you, you are important to me,"

we would go to our rooms, the shower, outside, the living room, wherever.

and life continued.

this is what i'm used to.

this is what i love.

this is what's different.