We decided to drive to Dallas over the holiday to see my cousin Michelle. I have not seen her in 13 years!! Rich proposed the idea and of course I was on-board. Upon calling Michelle and asking her what her thoughts were on us hanging with the family for the holiday she was very excited. Apparently, so was my aunt.
Michelle: My mom did a happy dance when I told her you were coming to visit.
Me: She did a happy dance? I want to see that. So she's OK if we crash her turkey dinner?
Michelle: My mom bought a 20 lb turkey, 3 pies and she's baking a cake. Not to mention she sent me out for 5 lbs of ground beef so she can make great-grandma Laville's stuffing.
Me: Good grief! 5 lbs??! Wait, we have family recipes??????
Family is a funny thing. I can't say my family is close. My dad's side is non existent. So I will not even elaborate on them at this point. But here is how my immediate and mom's side breaks down:
I have 1 half-brother and half-sister. I say "half" because I grew up referring to them as my brother and sister, but clearly into adulthood they developed their own agendas and I am no longer part of their life.
My mom had/has (not sure how to qualify that) 4 siblings. From oldest it went: Uncle David, my mom (deceased), Uncle Bill (deceased), Aunt Nayla, Aunt Debbie.
There are quite a few grandchildren. But I will list the one important cousin in this whole mess, my cousin Michelle. She is the daughter of the youngest of my mom's siblings, Debbie. Clearly, she and I are the only two in the family who care enough to reciprocate communication (never mind those two blips when we lost contact).
The neat thing about Michelle and me is how we have seemed to repeat the relationship our mothers had. My aunt was very close to my mom and when my mother passed when I was 9 it struck my aunt very deeply. I did not know this until very recently. In fact there was a lot I didn't know until very recently.
I am so happy that I am to spend the holiday with my cousin today and see my aunt and other relatives. I am especially happy to share this with Rich and eventually with Alex. My aunt Debbie has already made the proclamation that Alex will call her Grandma Debbie. Because he never knew my mom, she wants to fill that gap. I am speechless about this.
The memories I have of my family on this side is fuzzy and muddled with strange memories. So to hear this from my aunt just makes me feel all that more strongly about how important family can be in one's life.
Well, I'm off to prepare for the big day of turkey and the Dallas Thanksgiving Day Game...in Dallas. How cool is that?
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2 comments:
Aw, it is so awesome that you've reconnected with family! I'm really happy for you and got a little teary when I read the part about Alex getting to call your aunt grandma. Happy Thanksgiving!
i'm glad you're going to be with your family.
i'm greek.
my family is stereotypical.
there are family members everywhere.
they only downfall is that they are either on the other side of the country or they are in another country.
but, when we get together it's always a blast.
hope your trip was everything you wanted it to be.
until next time
-nick
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