We are Family?

HAH!
The Family Reunion (don't even get me started on that)that we just HAD to go to. Ok, on second thought, let's get me started. #1. the "cousin" who organizes this thing every year LIVES near the Naval Air base and so insists upon everyone driving way out of the way to get there. (It doesn't matter that the majority of people come from Mississippi or further south.} #2. it's my husband's side of the family (most of which he never sees or even cares to see.} #3. the only reason we go is, because we are pressured into going by his 89 year old grandfather, "This might be the last year I have." which BTW, he has been saying for the past 7 years. #4. it's an excuse for his grandfather to sit around and be praised for "the fruit of his loins". Ok, I just shuddered at that visual. #5. We are always miserable, we are always bored and the family talent show is always, well, not worth hanging around for. Oh, #6. then there is the family picture, this year I had to stand next to a man that smelled so heavily of alcohol that when we were there in the hot sun, he started sweating and he smelled horrible! I thought I was fixin' to ralf all over him. I kept gritting my teeth and thinking, "take the picture, take the picture, FOR GOD'S Sake! TAKE THE PICTURE!!!" Finally it was done and we were free (or I was anyway) from the stench. Every year, as we drive home, we look at each other and say, "We are NOT going next year!" Is eveyone's family reunion like this? I haven't been to my side of the families family reunion in years and pretty much don't care. Now don't get me wrong

I love my husband's dad and uncles and aunts. They are good people, I tolerate his grandfather. He lacks a great deal of tact and well, quite frankly, says things that I KNOW is not because of old age. He thinks its funny and oddly enough no one else does? He is paranoid on top of that and it drives us crazy. Take for instance, recently, we had bad storms roll thru here which inevitably makes our phones mess up. Apparently the man had tried to call us for a couple of days (although I think he exagerates)and couldn't get in touch with us. SO, when we finally do get our phones back, my son gets on line to play a bit. Pretty soon, we get a message on the on line answering machine and he is cussing us out and telling us "its a damned thing you won't call me back" yadee yadee yadee. My son was very upset and I had to call them back and explain to "nanny" what was going on. Grrrrrr! I told my husband, "Next time, I will give him a call back and tell him that he will never talk to me like that again or leave a message like that again." Hubby agreed.

Another thing the man does...during the winter (we live right across the way from him) when the trees are bare, we can literally see to his backyard from where we live. Likewise he can see right into our front yard and driveway. Everytime someone would come over {my aunt, cousin, lady from church) I would get a call..."I see you have company. Who is there?" I have 4 kids underfoot at all times. Did he actually think I would have a man over here or something? Get real! I finally had to tell my husband it was driving me nuts and that he had to make him stop! He did and I haven't had phone calls since. I guess he has always been like that, and my husband is patient to a point. I am not as patient since it is my character under fire all of the time. Why me?

I always joke and say, when I get to my 90's I am going to be a crochety old lady, demanding and speak my mind, but I seriously doubt it. Do the elderly just use their age as an excuse to be mean or do they genuinely kind of lose all sense of tact and decorum? I guess I'll find out, if I should ever live that long huh?

Well, I guess we'll do it all over again next year! LOL God Bless~ katcha