I think it was all the commercials I’ve seen on TV lately, the ones spouting the wonders of DNA testing, but I have been thinking a lot about my friend Lynne.  She passed away a couple years ago after surviving an off-the-charts number of years with ovarian cancer.

Outwardly dominated by German genes, I remember, after administering the test, she proudly announced that she had Sami blood (Laplander ancestry).

I felt compelled to get in touch with her husband Glen and twenty-something son Jeffrey, who I hadn’t seen in a long time.  We decided to go out for dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant.

Over beer and burritos, we covered so many topics; from spicy food to political satire to the best shows on Amazon Prime.

When I shared that, on my recent vacation, I went to a place that featured GONZO hot fried chicken and recommended customers order it with milk, Jeffrey started to explain why milk modifies the fiery effect of food that contains capsaicin.  (Who knew?)

I couldn’t help but smile. A living, breathing replacement for Google, he always seemed to have arcane but interesting information in his cache memory, ready to introduce even when only somewhat relevant to a conversation.

I smiled at both Glen and Jeffrey’s quirky personalities, little things that might drive me crazy if exposure was constant but so endearing within our existing relationships.

Papel picado, colorful perforated paper flags, common in Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) celebrations were strung along the restaurant’s ceiling, and I thought about the award-winning animation, Coco.

The main theme of the film is Miguel’s journey to the realm of the dead to get approval to pursue his passion for music.  A supporting theme is that souls that no longer walk on earth don’t want to be forgotten.

This week, I’ve not only given thought to people I miss, I realized how important certain people are to me.  It’s not about what they DO for me.  I’m grateful for WHO THEY ARE; for the unique qualities and blend of traits they embody.

Earlier in the week, I had dinner with my ex.  We caught up on happenings in our respective families and reviewed planned or recently completed travel.

I also wanted to hear about his fantasy football league.  Not to confer Billy Beane status on him, but he had an incredible knack for building his team around players that he could get for a song. His rosters would include old stars or talented back-ups who were rarely considered prime picks by others.

My sister Barbara, a card-carrying suburban girl, just came to the city for a shopping adventure to some little ethnic groceries in my neighborhood. She wanted to find a condiment she discovered during her October vacation to the Balkans.  I have to tip a hat to her curiosity and diligence, that she would go out of her comfort zone to secure a local source.

I just saw my friend Nicki.  She hosted a small house party to celebrate her birthday.  Always laid back and yet well-organized and in control, she gave her friends assignments on what they could bring but didn’t balk at accommodating unplanned requests (like turning on her TV for an update on the Notre Dame game).

People make the world go ‘round.

There are work commitments and household tasks and creative projects — things that beg attention and occupy time…but life is so enriching because I have different people and different kinds of relationships in my life.

We might be connected by shared history, by memories of experiences that we most likely recall differently, but, I want to experience new things with the people in my life.

I am influenced and touched by their special blend of characteristics; their wisdom or humor or perspective or charm.  I’m committed to making real time to spend together, to add new chapters in our stories.

Making time for people is no small thing.