I live in Washington, D.C. But I’m spending a long weekend — very long, Friday to Tuesday — with my sister and her husband in Atlanta.

I love visiting my sister. I grew up in a family of two girls and four boys, so Helen and I have a special bond. Because we live so far apart, we see each other only once or twice a year. One fun part about this trip is it is all relaxation and visit time. Usually when I’m here, it’s because I have a business trip to Atlanta and I take an extra day for a visit. (Nice, but I can always feel the clock ticking when I’ve got work looking over my shoulder.)

The best part of this trip is that I’ve brought my eight-year-old daughter along. Helen is her godmother, and she has a special bond with my daughter, too.

My daughter is the center of attention in this house, and that’s a nice thing for a kid who (1) has two working parents who are always racing from one thing to the next; and (2) has a brother who also needs attention. So it is good for her to be at center stage for a few days.

Seeing my daughter playing and joking with my brother-in-law, and talking earnestly or teasing with my sister, reminds me how vitally important these couple of days are. A time for family connection. No big plans for the day — maybe we’ll take a hike at a nearby park or perhaps spend a couple of hours splashing in the neighborhood pool.

Make time for family, especially folks you don’t see often enough. I know my daughter will always remember this trip to see Aunt Helen and Uncle Frank. She’ll remind me (long after I’ve forgotten) about the fact that Aunt Helen sometimes finds geckos on her back deck, and about Aunt Helen’s glorious chocolate chip cookies.

I can see the future coming, and it’s going to be a lovely memory that makes me smile. And it’s happening now.

– Lori Woehrle