Shopping for a greeting card recently, I came across one intended for a brother’s birthday.
A smiling boy is asked by his teacher to spell “brother”, and he spells out “D-I-P-S-H-I…”

Every family loves, fights, laughs and cries. And those are the families with no problems other than the highs and lows that life brings.

So consider the DeLucas and the Alvinos. It seemed as if it was “Family Night” on our 11pm newscast Tuesday. Families with big, public problems.

Lou DeLuca (left) resigned from the State Senate, perhaps before he could be expelled. The root of his problem: trying to protect a granddaughter from a husband DeLuca believed was abusive.

Anthony and Donna Alvino are under arrest in connection with the hit-and-run death of UConn freshman Carlee Wines. The root of their problem: trying to keep their son (right) from being charged with the crime. Their son has since copped a plea, and will be sentenced on January 23rd, a year and a day after Wines’ death.

There may be reason to believe that abuses of power and wealth came into play in the trials (and tribulations) of the DeLucas and Alvinos.
And there may be reason to believe that love (however misguided) came into play, too.

Maybe they’re not your typical next-door neighbors.
Or maybe they are.

The next time you have some family friction, maybe you should remember the DeLucas and Alvinos.
You’ll know things aren’t all that bad.
You may even want to send them a greeting card that tickles your fancy.