What a wacky time of year
Started on Thursday...hosted the family gathering this year. Crammed 20 people into a 16x16 room filled with tree, presents and large couch.
Chinese food was a success - took the left overs to VT with us.
Mix up with names in the draw...I was told I had one person and that was not correct. So one person didn't get anything and his wife got two. Oops.
Not my fault but I went out and got him a gift card.
One of the nieces lost her gift card at the house. Spent a while looking for it...finally found it 3 days later when going through the trash. At least it was just wrapping paper to paw through.
Weather was good for the trip up. Got the news that one of my childhood buddies' father died during the night and my dad offered to go pick up one of their kids at the airport so he'd have to leave xmas dinner early. I got a little snuffly in the truck on the way up, but didn't let it get me down.
Energy was weird at my sister's house, but since I wasn't staying...I didn't worry. Got to see my great aunt who was sent home to die by her doctors about 4 months ago. Nice to see the doctors are about as accurate as the weatherman.
Saw my aunt for first time in over 6 years. Her husband and Pete have the same hobby, so they were able to gab on and on for a while and not lose interest.
Plans to drop cousin into a deep hole to help adjust his attitude. You know, the kind of attitude that would've gotten you a swift kick in the ass when you were his age. Mouthy little lazy shit. Seems like I can leave one annoying little shithead behind and have another one waiting for me. Oh well...they're not my kids.
Grandfather talked about his army experiences for first time in my presence. It was kind of surreal. He has a very stong opinion about black folks based on an altercation with a knife. I will leave him with his feelings on the matter and comment not. I was just surprised he opened up at all. Helps to have a bf who also was in the army. Funny thing is Grandpa was supposed to go to Korea and got sent to Germany instead to patrol the Czech border. Pete was sent to Korea in the 80s. Nothing earth shattering, but I thought that was interesting. Grandpa even brought out his scrapbook of newspaper clippings of the local guys who died during the war. There was one guy who flew 52 combat missions before being shot down at the age of 22. Can you imagine?
Anyway I learned my family doesn't think I'm retarded and I had a good time. There was a momentus occasion when my Grandmother allowed Pete and myself to sleep in the same bed. It has been a house rule that unmarried couples had to sleep in separate beds. My aunts were stunned. Historic event in the family now...81 year old grandmother enters modern culture.
Chinese food was a success - took the left overs to VT with us.
Mix up with names in the draw...I was told I had one person and that was not correct. So one person didn't get anything and his wife got two. Oops.
Not my fault but I went out and got him a gift card.
One of the nieces lost her gift card at the house. Spent a while looking for it...finally found it 3 days later when going through the trash. At least it was just wrapping paper to paw through.
Weather was good for the trip up. Got the news that one of my childhood buddies' father died during the night and my dad offered to go pick up one of their kids at the airport so he'd have to leave xmas dinner early. I got a little snuffly in the truck on the way up, but didn't let it get me down.
Energy was weird at my sister's house, but since I wasn't staying...I didn't worry. Got to see my great aunt who was sent home to die by her doctors about 4 months ago. Nice to see the doctors are about as accurate as the weatherman.
Saw my aunt for first time in over 6 years. Her husband and Pete have the same hobby, so they were able to gab on and on for a while and not lose interest.
Plans to drop cousin into a deep hole to help adjust his attitude. You know, the kind of attitude that would've gotten you a swift kick in the ass when you were his age. Mouthy little lazy shit. Seems like I can leave one annoying little shithead behind and have another one waiting for me. Oh well...they're not my kids.
Grandfather talked about his army experiences for first time in my presence. It was kind of surreal. He has a very stong opinion about black folks based on an altercation with a knife. I will leave him with his feelings on the matter and comment not. I was just surprised he opened up at all. Helps to have a bf who also was in the army. Funny thing is Grandpa was supposed to go to Korea and got sent to Germany instead to patrol the Czech border. Pete was sent to Korea in the 80s. Nothing earth shattering, but I thought that was interesting. Grandpa even brought out his scrapbook of newspaper clippings of the local guys who died during the war. There was one guy who flew 52 combat missions before being shot down at the age of 22. Can you imagine?
Anyway I learned my family doesn't think I'm retarded and I had a good time. There was a momentus occasion when my Grandmother allowed Pete and myself to sleep in the same bed. It has been a house rule that unmarried couples had to sleep in separate beds. My aunts were stunned. Historic event in the family now...81 year old grandmother enters modern culture.