being pushed to the front of the family tree

How many people out there have ever thought about being the head of the living family tree? It is a strange feeling when you realize that everyone older than you in the family is gone. It didn't bother me too much when my grandparents passed. I mean we most of the time don't have grandparents long.

I have done the research and see the families that someone is 100 years old and has children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. Some of us, myself included, used to believe all people were that way. In my family, it didn't work that way.

Both of my grandparents were in their eighties when they passed away. Almost all of the brothers and sisters of grandparents gone as well. My dad's side of the family was gone too. My mother before she passed away said she was worried about what I would do after she and dad were gone. Funny, I was a caregiver and hadn't thought about the fact that as everyone passed away that I was getting older as well.

It was strange when dad passed away he had passed all his family in age. I am the one and only descendant of my dad. My aunt had some children but for all intent and purposes, I was it.

You then take on the events that had always been your parents who do it. Holiday dinners and at first it was for just me. If you haven't had much to do with cousins and the like you decide maybe it should be about time that changed.

Some cousins and I were remembering when our parents had passed. Not only did we all feel depressed but we realized we were at the front of the line. I never really thought it was bad. I thought I had lots of time. I only have three cousins that are older than me.

When you look at it that way you realize that according to the family timetable you might have twenty years to live. Amazing that when you are at this point you think of all the things you will probably never do in You begin to realize that you're going to start seeing your friend's names in the obits in the paper. Class reunions start being just about your age.

I don't know about others but I now look at each day as a gift. I try to put as much into each day as I can.

Well, I hope this has been helpful or at least insightful.