A day in our life

Somewhere in the world, there are 5 or 6 adults who are probably sleeping right now, dreaming their dreams, perhaps snoring, maybe lying beside their spouses or lovers.  They are my brothers and sisters.

Somewhere in the world, 5 or 6 adults probably enjoyed a Sunday afternoon, perhaps cooked dinner with their families, maybe watched a little television.  They are my brothers and sisters.

Somewhere in the world, 5 or 6 adults are celebrating wedding anniversaries, or birthdays, or other milestone events periodically throughout the year.  On certain dates, they probably pick up the phone and call each other to say “Happy Birthday.”  At Christmas, they probably spend weeks shopping for one another and for nieces and nephews, maybe even for grandkids.  They are my brothers and sisters.

Somewhere in the world, 5 or 6 adults might be sitting in front of their TVs watching the same programs I’m watching, or sitting in front of computers surfing the same sites I am.  Perhaps I’ve played an online game with them at some point, who knows?  Perhaps we’ve viewed websites together.  Maybe we’ve even been in some of the same chat rooms or on the same discussion forums.  They are my brothers and sisters.

Somewhere in the world, there are little children tucked safely in their beds, maybe cuddling a favorite stuffed animal, blanket or pillow.  They may be dreaming of sugar plums or dragons, of learning to fly or of going to Disney.  They are the children of my brothers and sisters.  Will they ever know they have an aunt who loves them, who hopes  they have beautiful lives?

We’ve looked at the same moon, enjoyed the light of the same stars.  The same sun shines on us all.  We’ve perhaps passed each other on an interstate, driving by without knowing that a few feet away rides someone who has the same blood flowing through their veins.  Maybe we have seen the same sunrise, watched the same sunset.  Walked the same streets, shopped in the same stores, saw the same sights.  It’s possible we’ve sat on the same bench in the park or in the same row in a theatre.  And never knew that the other has passed right by.

Do they ever dream about me?  Do I show up in their dreams as they do in mine?  Am I ever in their thoughts as they are so often in mine?  Has one of them sat and written similar words as I’ve written here, glancing at the moon and thinking, “she sees this too.”

Think about your brothers or sisters – do you know what foods they like?  When they come to visit, do you know what drinks to have on hand for them?  Could you choose a present for them with confidence, knowing it is something they would enjoy?  Have you had the pleasure of shopping for a gift for their baby?  When something significant happens in your life, do you call your siblings to tell them?  Did you come together to grieve at the funeral of a loved one?  Did you argue over who got the biggest piece of cake?  Do you have years of memories stored away of things you did together as children?

I don’t even know my siblings names.  They look like me, our DNA is very similar, and somewhere out there is a woman who knows about all of us, knows we all exist, knows all the secrets.  I only hope she reveals her secrets before it is too late for us all.

Somewhere in the world they dream, somewhere in the world I dream – maybe we can meet there.