This week, I asked posters twice for feedback on family estrangement and feedback on whether or not to acknowledge my niece's wedding, my niece's graduation, and what I learned was actually two nephews graduating.  On Friday, I followed up with what I intuited was God's will in my current circumstances.  I sent cards to the three graduating with checks.  I sent a card with prayers for joy and a happy marriage to the newlyweds.  I also e-mailed the brother who hadn't sent me announcements of his son's graduation and asked if there was a reason I hadn't received the news.  He responded with an apology for not writing me sooner and a promise to check his address book when he got home from work that night.

Thanks to all of you who responded to me with your honest feedback and your E/S/H.  I have never had to deal with anything like this and truly didn't know the best way to respond to the situation.  Once I felt peaceful about my decision to send cards and checks, I slept on it.  In the morning, I followed through with no hope of hearing anything from any of them.  I have always been my siblings oldest sister.  I will always be that.  I have loved them since their births (although I have teased about never getting over no longer being an only child when my brother was born and I was 2).  I will always love them.  I have been their children's aunt since their births.  I will always be their aunt, too.  You all helped me define for

myself the kind of older woman I want to be.  Thank you.