I was excited to wear my new dress.

It was slimming, I thought: all black and covered with flounces from the neckline to the hemline. I wore it with high heels — which I rarely wear — and red drop earrings. I was feeling much more sophisticated than I usually do when I went over to my sister’s house for dinner.

“Nice dress!” my mother said.

I gave my new dress a little twirl and set the ruffles flying in all directions.

“You look like a car wash,” my sister said.

This is why it’s good to stay close to family.

My husband, Peter, and I moved across the country to the...