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Finding Your Families

Updated: Dec 13, 2024

On Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade Saturday, people wear their Scottish best, me included.  Each year in December, Old Town, Alexandria, hosts the Scottish Christmas Walk paradeand festivities.  Alexandria’s early origin was as a market town populated by Scottish people.  The week before the festivities, people start hanging Scottish flags outside their houses.


Many Scottish Clans and bagpipers march each year.  And many breeds of dogs, which have a connection to the UK, enjoy parading too.  My dogs are Welsh Terriers and part of my family comes from Scotland. I have my Robertson Clan scarf and kilt pin and wear them each year to remind me of where I came from.


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There are many types of families.  The family you are born or adopted into, your dear family friends, the ‘family’ you develop at work, at play, or in your community. This weekend I had the chance to spend time with two families. My dog friend family and a brand new family which I can proudly call my own. 


One of my families is the people who have Welsh Terriers.  They are my Welsh family.  We spend a lot of time together when we can and it is always a bit crazy and loud when we get together.  My Welsh family walks each year in the Scottish Walk.  We carry a banner promoting Welsh Terrier Rescue, smile and wave at the parade viewers, and in some cases stop along the way to give Welsh kisses and collect pats and cuddles.


This is always a highlight of my year.  Today, after the Welsh finished the parade route, I had enough time to double back and join my Scottish Clan.  I knew none of them.  Being a bit of an extrovert, I just jumped back into the parade when I saw them and introduced myself.


What happened next made a perfect day more magical.  The Donnachaidh (Robertson) clan members greeted me as family right away.  We marched and chatted sharing our Scottish connections.  They then invited me to lunch!  Never in a million years could I envision the day turning out like this.


Sitting at the Fish Market on King Street drinking beer and catching up (or learning in my case) as if I had known them for years.  “You’re family Fernanda.  We are so glad you came and joined us.  We can’t wait to see you at our next function.” Filled with a newfound sense of love and connectedness, we hugged and went out separate way after lunch.


What is the point of telling you this?  Simply that family comes in all different forms.  You may have a strained relationship with the family that raised you, or you may be an only child. You may feel little lost and wish you had more people that shared your interests.  You can always create a feeling of family when you find a group that lifts you up, makes you smile, and includes you.


So, who makes up your families?

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