RL friends, or: How people get my family mixed up

[heleentje]

So yesterday I was discussing going to a movie with two of my friends. We live in different parts of the country, and for me and one of the other two, our university town was closest. The third, however, lives a lot farther away. So because there wouldn't be any trains for her to go back home after the movie, I propose she stays with us. Next there's mix-up of gigantic proportions.

H (me): Well, you can stay with us if you want to?
K (friend): Won't your grandma mind?
H: Sheeeeee's... Kinda dead.
K: How so? Her health's bad?
H: Grandma? You know? Died a month ago? June 30th?
K: OH! I meant your aunt.

On the one hand, well, it was funny. On the other hand, we've been friends for over two years, she's met both my aunt and my grandma, and she's been supporting me throughout the whole process, so I'm kinda miffed.

But it's a stupid thing to be annoyed about. And it's not like she's the first to mix them up. A lot of people even used to think they're the same person, mostly because I always spoke of grandmaandaunt (seemingly pronounced as one word. I didn't even know until someone called me out on it.)

On the other hand: This (Torchwood fans: spoilers for CoE) is just bad journalism.