Family, Friends And Food

And now for the bright side...

We got to see our niece and two nephews who have grown up so much. Noah was especially different as he has matured the most since we moved away. I am going to try to be a better aunt this year. It is my New Year's resolution, to remember birthdays and send cards and call more and keep up with everyone I have accidentally lost track of in the process of running away from home and disconnecting from my roots.

We did some bonding with Terry's immediate family and there were a few moments when it felt like old times. I am in the habit of referring to "your people" or "my people" when really I feel like they all have always been "our people". I have known everyone in Terry's family since I was fourteen years old. I have known his brother since grade school and his uncle since I was in Kindergarten as they are both my age. Since I have been a part of that family for over half my life now I think of all of them as my people too. That is a very good thing considering I have nearly no people left otherwise.

We had dinner one night with my mother, sister, and my step-father. It was pleasant. I hadn't actually seen my step-father in over a year and not since my near death experience so it was important to me to try to have some sort of a pleasant encounter with him. We have never been close, at times not even civil, but since I don't have to live with him anymore I dislike him less. He was extremely pleased to find out the sports bar/restaurant I picked to meet at was having a "kids' night" where they featured the basketball game on one screen and Cartoon Network on the screen beside it and the entire children's menu was all ninety-nine cents and the children were all entered into a raffle to win a new bicycle. Savannah won the raffle. So that was a particularly relaxing evening.

I spent Monday with my best friend from high school and my maid of honor. I owed her that. Every time we visit I pop in on her for a hour and that is it. I have missed her. We ate, we shopped, I even got roped into making crafts for her daughter's class. It was as if it were just another day and we always hang out together. I liked that a lot. Very comforting to have a friend who doesn't expect anything from me, she just likes to hang out with me. Why can't everyone be like that? I should have visited one of my other friends I used to work with. I promised her I would if I made the trip but I tried to call her while I was up there and got no answer. Then time got away from us I guess.

Twice we visited Terry's cousin Tommy and his family, whom we hadn't ever met. I hadn't seen Tommy since he was in his early teens. I was amused and impressed to find that sometime in the past decade or so he grew up into a seemingly responsible guy with a respectable job, beautiful house he is building himself in a really pretty little stretch of woods, really nice wife, two cool children, a dog and a Harley. He is still playing music and seems really happy. I am really glad for them.

We also visited Terry's grandparents twice and it is always comforting to be around them. We got married in their backyard. It is a shame they don't live in that house anymore. Visiting them in their new home is one of the things that just feels odd. However, their home is cozy and comfortable and one of those places you just feel happy. They are good people. I miss them a lot. Speaking of good people, we didn't get to see Terry's uncle and aunt as much as we would have liked to. We went over there one evening with his brother and family and intended on going back over another day but somehow got sidetracked. Then the week was over and it was time to go home. Maybe they should come visit us. Hint. Hint. Though I don't know if Evan could stand us (Terry and me) for any amount of time since he doesn't seem particularly fond of strangers at all. He was a wonderful host to the children though with all of the cream sodas and toys.

There were several sets of friends we didn't get to see. Even though we had a week, it still just isn't enough time to do everything. We should have went to visit Terry's dad's mother. She is in a nursing home. We put it off all week and then planned on doing it on our last day and then cancelled at the last minute and started the journey home instead. I feel pretty uneasy about that.

Thanksgiving at Terry's mom's house was busy and pretty good. It wasn't nearly as stressful as I had thought it was going to be. There was a lot less clashing of personalities than I expected. Full house, some familiar faces some new, good food and family. It is a nice thing sometimes. Though the drive is very long and extremely tiring, I didn't regret this trip, especially since I got to spend a solid week with my husband and children. That is always good.

One more tidbit of information I forgot to mention yesterday but felt a worthy phenomenon to note... There is an invisible line somewhere between Florida and Ohio, I suspect around Georgia or Tennessee (perhaps it extends over to somewhere in the Carolinas too) that separates all of the polite people from the assholes. The surefire way to tell when you have crossed to the north side of that line is the first time the person behind the counter smiles and reminds you to have a nice day on your way out the door. I am not sure where it extends westward but I don't recall encountering an impolite Iowan or Minnesotan either donchaknow. Yes, even Sherry my lovable Wisconsin born friend is as nice as she can be, eh. Maybe all the rude ancestors of all the nice families migrated to Florida generations ago and that is just the way it is.

Disclaimer: If you are reading this, and you live on the south side of that imaginary line and you aren't an asshole then I apologize in advance, but for the majority of the general population of that area, the ones who are rude, never smile back, generally look like miserable bitches, and have no manners whatsoever, you people who don't say "please" or "thank you" and those of you who prefer to let the doors slam in other people's faces rather than take a moment of your time to be considerate of someone other than your miserable self, the ones who trample little children in the mall and don't blink an eye when you slam your car doors into other people's cars, all you people who feel you have the right to criticize everyone else while you are a total moron and raising little rude ass children who also make everyone around them cringe, you can go fuck yourselves, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Anyway, that was nice while it lasted. That is all for now. Y'all come back now. Y'hear?