Back when life was simple

I have been missing my family lately. My brother and his family from Minnesota, which I don't get to see very often, are visiting my dad right now.  I have been feeling sad that I wasn't able to go over and be with them while they are out here and to be together as a family. 

I recently found this picture and to me it symbolizes the time in my life and my family when everything was simple and happy. Even though I was the only one not married at this time, and that could be hard being the only one without a partner, but we were all adults, or almost adults, and we could just have fun hanging out together as friends.  And we had one grandchild in our family to provide some excitement but we ALL weren't bogged down with all the parental responsibilities yet.  We just always had so much fun together. I'm sure I think back on this time as being simple because I was still a kid and didn't have all the adult responsibility that I do now. And I think this picture was taken about a month before the cancer in my mom came back, so at this point she had been cancer free for three years - back when life was simple.  I love my family and we are still happy and loving, just times change and things get rough and it will never be the same without my mom.  I love my family and hope that it isn't much longer before we can all get together again.   Family reunion next year everybody???