Growing up with nearly all of my family living within a five-mile radius of our apartment building was a mixed blessing: no matter the occasion, Christmas to christenings, anniversaries to Arbor Day, you knew exactly who was going to be on the guest list, jostling you at the cramped buffet table and beating you to the only bathroom. And even if it was your birthday celebration and you wanted to invite your friends, family trumped all and you knew exactly who was going to make the guest list. Continue reading →