My father believed he and our family were mistreated by his sisters in 1975 and he did not talk to them again. Many years (15) after he died I felt a need to mend fences and contacted my cousin which led to a reunion with my two aunts and many cousins and their families. It turns out they were all very close and basically knew everything about everyone else's business. I am a very private person and did not want to be so intimate.

They also spent much of their time together and were always inviting me to join them. They forgot that I had established a life without them and did not want to change my routine so I could have coffee and meals and holidays etc. with them. Since I did not conform to their belief of what the realationship should be like, they shunned me. It turns out my father was right about them.

We moved away from them 5 years ago. My one aunt tries to keep in touch but I see no reason to. There is no relationship and they mean nothing to me. I feel guilty because I do not communicate with her but I just don't want them in in business.

Family certainly complicates things, don't they.