Monday, November 20, 2006

up close and personal

When I was growing up we would spend Thanksgiving with my dads family. ( we were not allowed to know my mom's family, but that is another entry)

There are 8 children in my dads family, but the 8th child came along when I was an adult.

Anyway we would all go over to my The oldest Aunts house and Pop would always bring the pies. Once you get seven children and all of their children and spouses in one house there is bound to be drama.

Every year something would happen. One year my dad got into a fist fight with his next younger brother. Then there was the year that my oldest aunt threw another aunt down the stairs. Oh the aunt that was thrown down the stairs was six months pregnant!

All of us cousins were like steps going down. I got along with my next younger cousin so we would try to hide out in his room so that we would not have deal with our "family"

Since I moved out 17 years ago, I have only been home for the holidays a few times. Nothing has changed. We do not go to my aunts house anymore, but my sister and I fight all the time.

To tell you the truth, going back to my parents house is not going home. I feel like I am intruding on their time with my sister and hell child.

The first year I moved out I called my mom and told her that I wanted to come "home". She told me that I now have a family of my own, and that I needed to start my own traditions.

That is what I have done. Every year we host a bunch a military people who can't go home. Our friends have become our family.

This year I will miss our friends that are serving in Iraq, but I am very thankful for their service.

One a side note, I was just talking with Amber and Rusty yesterday about my dads family. None of my dads siblings showed up for his memorial. As a matter of fact, no one knows where half of them are anyway.

Karen: lives in Vegas and is drinking herself in a grave

Keith: my dad, dead

Kevin: lives in northern in Ind. some where

Katherine: no one knows

Kolette: dead

Kerry: last anyone heard was dyeing of cancer

Jane ellen: no one knows

Anne: no one knows

Normas Rockwell we were not.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

happy thanksgiving to you and your family hun xxzoexx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/zoepaul6968/DomesticAbuse/

Anonymous said...

thanks for sayin hi in my journal, ive been here before but lost all my favorites when my computer went on strike so u poppin over helped me to find u again!!
its very kind of you to invite all those people in for christmas, i wish i was a little girl again with a sack of pressies but hey, you just gotta grow up, unfortunately!!
Beckie.

Anonymous said...

I think its great to share Thanksgiving with your millitary friends, you are so sweet to do Thanksgiving for those who cant go home to their families!!
Hugs
Carrie

Anonymous said...

Nope, we weren't either, even if we tried! But when I married, I made my own traditions. Now I'm much happier and more relaxed. So much better that way. Whew! :o)
Lisa

Anonymous said...

My family isn't close either, most I don't know. Distance was a big problem.
Barbara

Anonymous said...

My very immediate family is my only "real" family now, that's all that matters and we have to be really thankful for having that! I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving! Martha