I had been thinking about family and support even before I read the wonderful posts about what Gotham meant to its members. The love and support here has been evident throughout the year. I was reminded of a family by chance that I've been in for more than fifteen years. We've been though illness, life-changing decisions, moves, death, and celebrations. We came together because we were available to meet on Wednesday evenings. We knew nothing about each other. Yet, we're still all there for each other - on Zoom now as we've scattered geographically.  A second family by chance, born out of the need for connection during the pandemic, gathers for virtual cocktails. This week, we sent a get well video to a member just out of the hospital and she burst into song!

There are, countless families of choice as well. I discovered groups that have been together since elementary school. I have one created in my freshman year of college. I was declared her fourth daughter by the mother of a college friend decades ago. Now, the mother, my friend, and her niece who had declared that I was her auntie are all gone. This weekend, my friend's nephew and his family were in New York and within just a few minutes it was clear that my family of choice had extended to a new generation.

It's never too early or too late to make these connections. Who's in your family?