When you miss family

The bond some families have is so strong it can stand the test of time and distance, but that does not mean you won't miss your family. In life there are all kinds of reasons we end up far away from family, from jobs, school, missions, etc. But the one thing in common for most people is that they eventually start to miss their family. No matter how exciting or new the place is, when you are away from family, even for a short time, you may miss them. The following are some tips for coping:

1. Journal. A fun way to stay connected and not miss out on what is going on with your family when you are separated is to keep a journal of events and thoughts. This is not like your personal journal, this is more like a record of your day, time, and big deal things. So, this way your family member can read it when they get back, and they won't feel like they missed anything. They won't need any catching up because you will have it all written down for them. An example entry may look like this:
Went to the zoo today, left late, of course, and when we got there it was freezing cold. Most of the animals were indoors, so it just looked like a bunch of empty enclosures. We still had fun though. Not many people were there, so we goofed off, sang silly songs, and rode the carousel.
2. Skype. When you have to be away from your family, it helps if you can talk to them and see them. A great way to do this without expensive flights, and long distance phone charges is to use Skype. It is a program for computer chat, that uses webcams to allow you to talk. It is free, easy to use, and makes for a fun way to see everyone while you talk and catch up.
3. Social networking. While this is not as personal, it does give you a decent sense of what is going on in people's lives, and allows you to see pictures, events, comments, etc. So, when you can't be with your family, you can still communicate (despite time differences), with notes on walls, instant messages, messages, photos, and the like through social networking sites.
4. Emails and letters. A good old fashioned letter is a wonderful way to communicate with family when you miss them. An email is great as well. Send a little note or update about yourself, ask them about them, and you don't have to feel so far away. People who were separated from those they love have communicated like this for years, so use it, it works!
5. Phone and text. Most everyone has cell phones, and text messaging, so use it. It can be hard to carry on a phone conversation with someone you haven't seen in a long time, but it is possible, so call to say hi, or tell them about your day, or send them a joke through text just to stay connected.

Thrice

Saying farewell to Thrice after 14 years

The bands you get into as a pissed-off teenager tend to stick with you, having been discovered during such critical years. Post-hardcore four-piece Thrice was one of those bands for me. So when the quartet announced a farewell tour, after which they will go on an indefinite hiatus after almost 14 years of music-making, I felt twinges of sadness. But I felt comforted in the fact that if any band has successfully explored and blasted through their musical limitations, it’s Thrice.
Thrice was formed in 1998 in a garage in Irvine, Calif., by high school friends Dustin Kensrue (vocals/guitar), Teppei Teranishi (guitar) and brothers Riley and Eddie Breckenridge (drums and bass, respectively). From the beginning, the four musicians had a clear vision of what their priorities as a band were going to be.
“The goal of this band has always been about the music, first, and about creating, and about staying true to our vision,” Riley says. “We’re not doing this to be famous, and we’re obviously not doing this to be rich. We just do this because we love music.”
The band rapidly gained a devoted following with their instrumental prowess, thought-provoking lyrics and bombastic live shows, but Thrice wasn’t destined to hide in the proven success of their riff-heavy, drum-heavy and just-plain-heavy hardcore sound. Since the band was unafraid to experiment with new musical styles, each new album was a never-before-heard side of Thrice. Albums like Vheissu (2005) and the vast, two-disc Alchemy Index Vols. 1 & II (2007 and 2008, respectively) challenged listeners to expand their sonic horizons.
“We’ve been lucky to have fans that are kind of evolving,” Riley says. “Their musical tastes are evolving as ours are. I’ve spoken to a lot of people after shows [who say], ‘I started out and was really into punk rock and hardcore and stuff like that … and then you guys kind of like carried me along on a journey to expand what I listen to.’ And as a musician, that’s one of the greatest compliments. Helping people understand how amazing and how massive the world of music is—that’s one of the reasons why we do this.”
But Thrice’s latest album, Major/Minor (2011), feels more like a return to roots than an excursion into new terrain, and if it indeed ends up being the last record the band creates, it’s an effective and satisfying close to a circle. Written and recorded in the midst of personal tragedy, the album deals with themes of family and mortality.
“Each member of the band has had a family member pass away over the last, like, two years [or] had family members dealing with cancer. … Stuff was just really unstable for a while,” Riley says.
And after years of touring almost nonstop, the band members have mutually decided to take an indefinite hiatus so Kensrue and Teranishi can be home with their young children. The sense that the break is the end of an era is shared by fans and the band alike.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t really disappointed,” Riley says. “Just because I really love doing this and it’s something that I’ve put my heart and soul into for almost 14 years.”
Even though it’s unfortunate that Thrice won’t be creating any new music, at least for the time being, their discography is a testament to a band that delved deeper and explored further than even they thought possible.
“I’m just so grateful to have had the opportunity to do this for as long as we have,” Riley says. “When we started the band, turning the band into a career was never even something that seemed remotely possible. And I’m so grateful to our fans for making that a possibility … if nobody gave a shit about the band, we’d still be in a garage in Irvine somewhere, and we wouldn’t be playing at all. And I appreciate them for sticking by us.”