Those Who Filled the Void

© Athena Milios

As a child I often dreamed about what it would be like to have a large immediate family, with lots of aunts, uncles, and (first) cousins. I also guiltily envied my friends whose grandparents lived nearby and could stop in for a visit anytime while mine were on another continent.

My immediate family when I was growing up consisted of my mom, my dad, my younger brother, and my two grandmothers. Neither of my parents…