Shari
IsItFridayYet?
Ok, so...I was having a dilemma last week about husband's 97 year old grandma's funeral and my neice's wedding reception, that we were to provide a hog for, right.
Well, turns out husband's aunt (dead grandma's daughter) didn't want to miss her basketball game on Saturday, so the funeral was today. CHA-CHING! So, no conflict (except driving home on no sleep ths morning, but hey...we can deal).
Anyway, we got the hog picked up and delivered and had a wonderful time at my neice's reception.
If you'd have told me the things I would witness in the next 12 months a year ago today, I would have bet my life earnings on YOU being wrong.
And I'd have lost.
My MOTHER danced to a rap song last night. Then she danced to Honky Tonk Ba Donk A Donk, complete with sticking her hind-end in the middle of a circle of dancing people and shaking it thoroughly every time the chorus was repeated... She acted like she was going to race my brother at a stop light on the way back to the hotel... She had "drinks" for us all at Christmas (a first), and now this? All bets are off from here on out... who is this person and what did she do with my mother!!! My mother bordered a prude until dad died last year. lol
No, really, we had a blast. The whole family. And together. My mom, my brother and me, our kids, we all danced fast paced dances together (and none of us are good dancers). We had a wonderful time.
After we were cleaned up, wee difficult child couldn't sleep so he and I went to Denny's at 2:30am. Bad idea. He was seated on the long bench that seats people for multiple tables. They seated six big guys next to us, and they were using some "ripe" language (F and N, a LOT). I didn't think difficult child was paying attention, but next thing I know he's on all fours on the seat 6 inches from one guy's face, growling at him. Didn't have to worry about any more bad words, the conversation DIED. RIGHT THERE.
We left this morning and made the funeral. Of husband's grandma's 7 grandkids, husband and his daughter (easy child 2) stood in the receiving line (partly, I think, encouraged by his mother). So glad to know they're the only ones any one cares about. husband's mother repeatedtly introduced them, called them back if they left the line, etc. And even when difficult child 1 and I were close by, she never once pointed either of us out or introduced us. Sigh. It won't change, I'm sure. I'm just never sure how to deal with it, as it makes me SO very angry, not for myself, but for difficult child 2, who knows only husband as daddy...
Anyway, we went and sat by husband's cousins (will describe below), who are "outcasts", too. LOL We had a good time.
husband's Grandma had 3 kids - 2 daughters and a son. Her son died when he was about 60. He was married and he had a step-daughter and 2 sons (all over 25 at the time of his death - the cousins I sat with). He and his wife had been married 35 years or so at the time of his death. His wife has never remarried. Neither she nor the step-daughter were included as survivors or family in the obituary. In addition, one of his son's adopted his step-son when he married. This adopted son was not included as a great-grand-child, either, in the obituary. Boy, did I feel special that my kids were included as "step great grandchildren". ROFLMBO
It is so bad that these boys were not even told when husband's mom and aunt moved grandma out of her house and into a home several years back. They divided up all of grandma's "stuff", then called the boys when they were done pilfering her junk. They were free to what was left.
Anyway, there was a little gathering afterwards. I was standing outside again with one of the "outcast" cousins, wee difficult child, and another cousin. The other cousin was watching difficult child play, and difficult child was walking on the insides of his feet. This cousin asked the outcast cousin, "Is that kid a cripple?" (no idea "that kid" was mine, either... and these people ALL live within 5 miles of my house in a town of 2000 people...)
I didn't take it personal, in fact, I find it a bit amusing because it sounds just like husband's mother (and her level of sensitivity about something) but seriously, this is just a really good big picture of this whole family. OMG.
So anyway, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight. Overall, it was a great weekend. Even with dealing with husband's family. As always, if anyone has any advice as to how to handle these people, send it on, I need all the help I can get. Otherwise, I'm just sitting here basking in the great memories, and thanking the powers that be that, however crazy my family EVER seemed (or however crazy we look on a dance floor), its NOTHING like husband's, and I am BLESSED! lol
Well, turns out husband's aunt (dead grandma's daughter) didn't want to miss her basketball game on Saturday, so the funeral was today. CHA-CHING! So, no conflict (except driving home on no sleep ths morning, but hey...we can deal).
Anyway, we got the hog picked up and delivered and had a wonderful time at my neice's reception.
If you'd have told me the things I would witness in the next 12 months a year ago today, I would have bet my life earnings on YOU being wrong.
And I'd have lost.
My MOTHER danced to a rap song last night. Then she danced to Honky Tonk Ba Donk A Donk, complete with sticking her hind-end in the middle of a circle of dancing people and shaking it thoroughly every time the chorus was repeated... She acted like she was going to race my brother at a stop light on the way back to the hotel... She had "drinks" for us all at Christmas (a first), and now this? All bets are off from here on out... who is this person and what did she do with my mother!!! My mother bordered a prude until dad died last year. lol
No, really, we had a blast. The whole family. And together. My mom, my brother and me, our kids, we all danced fast paced dances together (and none of us are good dancers). We had a wonderful time.
After we were cleaned up, wee difficult child couldn't sleep so he and I went to Denny's at 2:30am. Bad idea. He was seated on the long bench that seats people for multiple tables. They seated six big guys next to us, and they were using some "ripe" language (F and N, a LOT). I didn't think difficult child was paying attention, but next thing I know he's on all fours on the seat 6 inches from one guy's face, growling at him. Didn't have to worry about any more bad words, the conversation DIED. RIGHT THERE.
We left this morning and made the funeral. Of husband's grandma's 7 grandkids, husband and his daughter (easy child 2) stood in the receiving line (partly, I think, encouraged by his mother). So glad to know they're the only ones any one cares about. husband's mother repeatedtly introduced them, called them back if they left the line, etc. And even when difficult child 1 and I were close by, she never once pointed either of us out or introduced us. Sigh. It won't change, I'm sure. I'm just never sure how to deal with it, as it makes me SO very angry, not for myself, but for difficult child 2, who knows only husband as daddy...
Anyway, we went and sat by husband's cousins (will describe below), who are "outcasts", too. LOL We had a good time.
husband's Grandma had 3 kids - 2 daughters and a son. Her son died when he was about 60. He was married and he had a step-daughter and 2 sons (all over 25 at the time of his death - the cousins I sat with). He and his wife had been married 35 years or so at the time of his death. His wife has never remarried. Neither she nor the step-daughter were included as survivors or family in the obituary. In addition, one of his son's adopted his step-son when he married. This adopted son was not included as a great-grand-child, either, in the obituary. Boy, did I feel special that my kids were included as "step great grandchildren". ROFLMBO
It is so bad that these boys were not even told when husband's mom and aunt moved grandma out of her house and into a home several years back. They divided up all of grandma's "stuff", then called the boys when they were done pilfering her junk. They were free to what was left.
Anyway, there was a little gathering afterwards. I was standing outside again with one of the "outcast" cousins, wee difficult child, and another cousin. The other cousin was watching difficult child play, and difficult child was walking on the insides of his feet. This cousin asked the outcast cousin, "Is that kid a cripple?" (no idea "that kid" was mine, either... and these people ALL live within 5 miles of my house in a town of 2000 people...)
I didn't take it personal, in fact, I find it a bit amusing because it sounds just like husband's mother (and her level of sensitivity about something) but seriously, this is just a really good big picture of this whole family. OMG.
So anyway, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight. Overall, it was a great weekend. Even with dealing with husband's family. As always, if anyone has any advice as to how to handle these people, send it on, I need all the help I can get. Otherwise, I'm just sitting here basking in the great memories, and thanking the powers that be that, however crazy my family EVER seemed (or however crazy we look on a dance floor), its NOTHING like husband's, and I am BLESSED! lol
