Okay, you guys (and gals -- and semi-gals), I can tell you this, but you have to promise NOT TO TELL MY PARENTS!  I promised I wouldn't, so shut up when you're over at my mom's house.

My sister came by last night to tell me she's eloping!  Isn't that cool?  She and her man are spending the holidays in Belize and decided to tie the knot while they were down there.  Very exciting!  Fun to see my sister bouncy and happy. 

Apparently, they'll tell my folks when they get back home (worrying that my parents -- who also scuba-dive -- will just show up in Belize at the ceremony)  I guess we'll have a reception when they get home. 

GREAT NEWS!

(I knew I was gonna have to get married first before Amber would get off her butt.). 

Tom,

Don't parents usually FUME when they find out their kids eloped??

Tom that is very exciting news,  I wish her great happiness.

Do you or your sister live near your parents?  Reason I ask is , we were talking to a group of Jon-boys friends and they acted like I had commited the biggest goof-up because I said I wanted to live near Jonathan or Jackson when I got old. I grew up a block from my grandparents and my dad and mom moved to the city I live when they retired. Which I love because I get to see my dad a lot and if he needs me I am close by.

Is living near your parents out of fashion?

I'll keep it a secret, Tom! And I wish your sister the best.

But I guess it goes to show that different families have different dynamics. If I had eloped, my parents (and my wife's parents) would have been greatly hurt. Not angry, but hurt.

Is living near your parents out of fashion?

Jodi -

We live about 5 blocks north of my mother & father-in-law.  And I am pleased to report I have a very, atypically good relationship with my mom/dad-in-law !  Also, one of my brother-in-laws lives right across the street from his mom & dad.  A sister in law and brother-in-law live 15 minutes away from their parents.  My dad is only 5.5 hours away, not close by, but we can drop by any day during the same day.

BTW: In the four months that preceded our two year tenure in Nepal, my wife and I stayed with her folks.  Other than the day we helped them put in new carpeting (an exhausting and frustrating job for everyone), it was a great season in our collective lives.  That said, we both prefer living in our own home !

Addendum: Like Al (above) we want to be close to our folks during their twilight years.

My mom's parents live about a half-hour away - close enough for her mother to come and babysit for us two days a week. My parents live about two hours away, which isn't too far. We still get to see them regularly (at least 3-4 days a month), although I often wish they were a little closer.

When my son grows up, I'd love nothing better than for him to live close to his old man.

Michael,

My people aren't allowed to marry...