I was blessed with a great family. Very close and loving, in the scandanavian way; never emoted much, but we knew the love was strong. I assumed every family was that way until I got older.
I was a hearing aid practitioner for twenty years and witnessed some sad situations. I usually go to know the patient's extremely well, one of the benefits of being a good listener. Some would become quite melancholy during the holidays as they were not at all close to their children. No holiday visits, even though the children were within an hour drive.
I suspect that some of them created the rifts only to regret it during their latter years.
