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Post by Vince524 on Dec 25, 2016 13:47:17 GMT -5
Well, things took an interesting turn this morning.
We had our morning of opening presents. The Sage family had mentioned they'd never done Christmas like this before and it was one of those really special moments, not just the fact that they got some nice things, but that they really felt like a part of the family. We got a very touching card from their older brother who is here with them, along with their older sister.
Then the phone rang. Their father, who they haven't seen since June, somehow got to town and wanted to know if it was okay to stop by. We told him it was, but the reaction from the kids was pretty immediate and not positive. The 3 girls had no desire to see him, and between them decided instead of having him come here, the older brother (Who wasn't thrilled to see him either,) and the younger brother would go visit him. Neither seemed really thrilled, but felt like they should.
I offered to drive Yotham down so Josh wouldn't have to see his father, but Josh said he had a few things to say to his father.
Then, my sister called. My father isn't doing well. Things aren't too great on that relationship front, but he's about 5 hours away. My sister lives near him, but they haven't been talking.
My sister is home with her kids, her first Christmas since her separation.
And to boot, my wife talked briefly with her father, who is in a class by himself.
We're all trying to get back on track and not let this ruin what was turning out to be a great Christmas. We've already been told that it's their best Christmas ever.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2016 14:16:22 GMT -5
I feel your pain, Vince. I hope you can salvage your great Christmas despite it.
This is my second Christmas without my father. I was extremely close to him, but alas, I am not with my mother or my brother. Each of them...well, let's just say I never talk to them without feeling stressed out (at least), especially my mother. I adore my nieces and nephew and like my sister-in-law, but I'm afraid I'm discovering the cost of spending time with them is very high indeed. Somehow my dad held all that together -- not only was he was a buffer with my mother, but he made putting up with the negative stuff worthwhile. I knew at least that he got genuine happiness from my company, and vice versa.
Anyway, I spent the holidays last year and this year with good friends. Luckily, I have had competing invitations (which I appreciate, even if sometimes I'd prefer to be alone, anti-social creature that I am).
Blood is not everything.
Anyway, you and your wife seem like such good people. I'm glad you've created some family love around you.
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Post by Vince524 on Dec 25, 2016 14:42:09 GMT -5
I get where you're coming from. My Mom was the glue that held the family together on my side. Ever since she died, which has been about 6 years ago, there's not much there. My dad and I were never close. He's highly critical, thinks very little of everyone else but himself, and easy to anger.
I'm going to go call my aunts soon. Aunts on my father's side. I haven't seen them in decades because when I was a kid, my dad lost his temper and cut off his entire family. Refused to go even years later to his own mother's funeral.
Just about a year and 1/2 ago, someone on facebook had made an offhand comment about the 'other' folder, basically spam folder, on FB. I never realized that Facebook had one, so I went to check to see what was there. (The person mentioned they had won a contest, and hadn't known so their prize was given to someone else when they didn't claim it.)
Well, I found a note from a cousin who is younger than me, and we hadn't seen each other in all this time. He was asking if I was the Vincent he remembered.
Within 24 hours of replying, I was back in contact with dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins. I got to speak one last time to one uncle before he passed.
I've connected with dozens of family, including younger cousins who I didn't even know about. Found out my love of reading and writing came from my Aunt Che Che.
Hard to swallow that I had to go without them my entire life, people who would have been quick to be in my corner, as opposed to my father who was not.
I think our Christmas here is still going to be okay. The boys are doing what they got to do, then they'll be back for Christmas dinner. We'll play some more games like we did last night. We had a ball together.
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Post by Christine on Dec 25, 2016 14:44:10 GMT -5
Meanwhile in South Florida, the ice cream truck is currently rolling through the neighborhood playing "La Cucaracha."
BUT OF COURSE.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2016 14:49:55 GMT -5
That makes me want to visit south Florida. I go every year to northern Florida to visit friends, but they do not seem to have ice cream trucks that play la cucaracha. That's a shame.
Vince, it sounds like your dad and my mom would be a pair.
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Post by Vince524 on Dec 25, 2016 19:04:10 GMT -5
That makes me want to visit south Florida. I go every year to northern Florida to visit friends, but they do not seem to have ice cream trucks that play la cucaracha. That's a shame. Vince, it sounds like your dad and my mom would be a pair. Probably. My mom was loud and full of laughter. She's where I got my sense of humor from. So blame her.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2016 19:10:22 GMT -5
Heh. I have my Dad's sense of humor -- we shared a taste for the ironic and the absurd.
Your mom and my dad have a lot to answer for.
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Post by Christine on Dec 26, 2016 9:45:24 GMT -5
Ugh. I think I have sugar poisoning. Two straight days of too much food and alcohol. I'm starting a 5-day detoxification regimen. =D
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Post by celawson on Dec 26, 2016 11:31:39 GMT -5
Ugh for me too - too much food combined with too little activity due to my head cold = feeling chubby right now.
I'm hitting the gym after work. And eating better today.
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Post by Vince524 on Dec 26, 2016 11:51:34 GMT -5
Over the last 2 days, I've had Hannah's chocolate cake, pecan pie, carrot cake, peanut butter fudge, and my daughters coconut creme pie. Washed it down with egg nog.
Dinner's over the last 2 days, lasagna, shrimp Parmesan, spaghetti & meatballs, ham, scalloped potatoes, Swiss beans, some sort of corn bake thing which was liked corn break with actual corn, but really good, steamed carrots and caesar salad.
I think I pretty much blew my carb count.
What's worse is Hannah is threatening, or offering depending on your take, to make some deserts we've never had. She's going to kill us.
On the other hand, I think despite all the issues that arose, it was a really good Christmas for everyone.
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Dec 26, 2016 13:19:04 GMT -5
Dammit, Vince. Just reading that required an extra metformin.
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Post by robeiae on Dec 27, 2016 8:17:49 GMT -5
Aren't those the weird little things from Star Wars, Episode I? I don't think they're real, RT.
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Post by Vince524 on Dec 27, 2016 9:03:45 GMT -5
Aren't those the weird little things from Star Wars, Episode I? I don't think they're real, RT. I got BB8 for Christmas! Only toy I got. Everyone else got me clothes and pots. Actually, I can't wait to try out the new Dutch oven!
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Post by celawson on Dec 27, 2016 13:35:11 GMT -5
Good Lord, we've got so much leftover ham, I think we're at risk of going into sodium comas over here. And unlike Turkey, ham doesn't lend itself to using the leftovers as easily. I want to make lima beans and ham, but the kids think that's gross. kids these days.
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Post by Vince524 on Dec 27, 2016 15:16:10 GMT -5
Good Lord, we've got so much leftover ham, I think we're at risk of going into sodium comas over here. And unlike Turkey, ham doesn't lend itself to using the leftovers as easily. I want to make lima beans and ham, but the kids think that's gross. kids these days. Ham and eggs? This morning I made eggs Benedict. Ham salad, which I don't like. Ham sandwiches
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