I'm sitting at my sister's in-law's house in Long Island right now.

My dad is lying half asleep behind me watching a John Wayne movie ("The Searchers"), and my nephew is sitting quietly playing Lego Batman on his Nintendo DS. The rest of the family, my two sisters, my two brother-in-laws (and their brother and sister), and my niece, are sight seeing, heading to one of the oceans around here, although it is one of the rainiest days I can remember.

I've spent the last couple of days with pretty much my entire family, we've been staying with my sister and her husband who live in Hoboken, New Jersey. I recently moved home, completely, to live with my parents again. The recession has really hit hard at home, so I was asked to move back. Asked to, and really needed to. My money situation isn't great as it is. Being home however has given me a lot of time to get accustomed to living every day with my parents again. Every morning. Every evening. Breakfast. Dinner. I used to dread coming home on the weekends, the thought of conversing with my parents used to ruin my day, but I am really starting to cherish my relationship with both of them again.

When all of us are together though, it sometimes gets to be a little too much. We can all laugh together, and in a split second, we can all argue. And I am usually the cause, due to my newly found hardheadedness, or the topic. I'm the youngest of three, so I've seen my sisters grow up in what feels like two totally different child hoods. Which means I've been brought up in a setting that is unfamiliar to both of my sisters. I'm able to do a lot that they couldn't do, and I'm able to say a lot more as well. I do, regrettably, talk back to my parents, but our relationship is completely different. I apologize when I lose my head, as do my parents in turn, and then we go back to being how we've been for the last few years.

I love my sisters to death. They are my life. My world. My purpose. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be the man I am without the women they are. However, it irks me when we disagree and fight. I never used to put in my two cents, but now I do, and that doesn't sit right... with anyone. I'm still the baby, you know? And as much as they hate it and I, myself, hate it, I am an adult, and therefore I am entitled to have my own opinions and my own arguments to oppose theirs. That's why I stayed behind today, while they have some sister time together and I can clear my thoughts. They never get to do that and neither do I.

We're leaving for home tomorrow morning, and the 11 hour car ride will allow me to sleep and reflect and write. I haven't sat down and just written in what feels like months, so this feels really good right now.

Mandippal.