Old Mennonite Memoirs

The dictionary tells me that a relationship is the state of being related or interrelated. It's a kinship, connecting or binding participants in a relationship. It's the state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings. The thesaurus says blood ties are a relationship. Sometimes relationships are simply a bond, a connection or a state of being united.

My relationships and my ties to them were strong enough last week to take me away from home for long hours at a time. The desire to keep my relationships alive and healthy was powerful enough to override my need for the usual...