Foundation of family

Family holidays have always been special to our group. I was reminded of this recently by a friend’s Facebook post: “Families don’t get together like they used to. Once the elders (ex: grandparents) die, a lot of times so does the glue/connections.” Source Unknown.

I shared this post and thus began a conversation with my three sisters, nieces and nephews and a couple of honorary sisters.

This Thanksgiving marks the 15th without Mom and Dad. They died in June 2004, a very few weeks apart.

The “four original Tylers,” along with their spouses and families, have celebrated the holiday together every year. As best we can count, we have added 29 to our numbers through the years and, with marriages and births, we add more seats to the table(s) every year. True to our parents’ style, if you’re related to one of us, you’re family.

Mom and Dad gave us strong glue. One of my sisters put it like this: “Our parents would be so disappointed if we became estranged or lost contact. That’s one of the main reasons we’ve all stayed together; plus, we all still like each other and have fun together!”

Thank you, J.W. and Pat Tyler, for the foundation you built for us and the glue you shared so lovingly to hold it all together. SANDY TYLER CARPENTER Maumelle

Editor’s note: This letter was also signed by Lynda Tyler Quick, Marilyn Tyler Scott, and C.J. Tyler Newton.