Family Reunions
06 August 2003-12:39 p.m.
I want a vacation. A long one. I took yesterday off and it was so nice. I get to go to a family reunion later this month. I've never been to one. I was born and raised in the South. My parents are Northerners. This has lead to me being an odd blend of two cultures. I am most certainly more Southern than anything else. I find whenever I am being polite, (generally to strangers) I always slip into a more Southern speech pattern. I noticed this the other day when I was asking things of a receptionist. I automatically smile and my voice just takes on a sweeter drawl than usual. And I use Southern phrases more. *shrugs* I don't know why this is. But I digress, this was going to be about my family reunion. Most of my friends have reunions all the time. They are a big thing down here. But my family isn't from here. We never have these things. I've at least met my Mother's family. I wouldn't recognize them if they just walked down the street, but if put into context I can figure out who's who. I know that there are cousins named Buttons, Patty and Patrick. I think some of them have children. These people would be related to me in some way. But Dad's family? I've met my uncles. That alone is a feat. One lives in South Korea, one is now living in Florida but he's been in Japan, and the Azores. We get phone calls that sound like this "hey I'm going to be in the country next month, we should get together. bye" Where in the country? When? *rolls eyes* I never knew there was more family than my uncles. Well I guess in theory I did. Dad mentioned cousins. In the past couple of years Dad has gotten back in touch with a lot of them, and now we have been invited to a family reunion. So later this month I'm packing my bags and going to a pool party in Paramus New Jersy. I will be meeting a bunch of people I've never met, that I'm related to, and I will be going with my family. I'm looking forward to it, and it will be a vacation in that I'm not at work sense, but I'm not sure how relaxing it will be. Just traveling with my family can be stressing. We love each other but throw us all in close proximity for long periods of time. Well I'm sure when I get back I'll want another vacation. At least we are flying. If the idea had been to drive, I would have had to just buy my own plane ticket and have them meet me at the airport. I have promised myself not to go on another driving trip with my entire family again. Not that I don't love ya. *smile* John will get to miss out on this adventure as he will just be starting college. I suppose it would be bad form to encourage him to skip class this early in his college days. It will be something he will learn to do on his own. Perhaps I will stick his picture on a stick and pretend it's him. I could even make it talk. Do you think these people would enjoy that? Hmm I mean it's best to let them see that they are related to a nutter early on, don't you think? I want to make a good impression. Perhaps carrying a stick figure of the missing brother is not such a good idea.