dannydmc

I have looked into the face of my enemey and he is me!

I returned recently from my parent's 25th wedding anniversary and I must report that I had a great time. Maybe the average person might not associate fun with family get togethers, but I truly enjoyed this one. It was great to leave Madison and the assorted shit that has been/not been going on for me there, and to see my family and just relax.
Life was good. I hung out with my Mother's family, took some time to host the entire shindig, and also got to d-j the pre-dinner activities. By the end of the night, my Uncle Bob and Aunt Pam from my Father's side of the family invited me to go out drinking. Now, before I proceed, allow me to go into a bit of background.
My Father and his family are not particularly close. I was very suprised to see my Uncle Bob there; I have only met him a few times before. He's not a bad man, but strikes me as the type who is used to getting what he wants from people, and doesn't know how not to.
And so, I went into this drinking experience, knowing full well that these were the type of people who think of themselves as good drinkers, and would have not qualms about trying to drink their 23 year old cousin under the table. I, mind you, was just as arrogant and had no problems with boasting I could take them all down as well: especially if they were buying.
Let me just say that I won; and along the way I learned some interesting bits about my family's history which I was previously unaware of. First and foremost, I was told that I'm a spitting image of my own Father at my age(although I still suspect that I'm more outgoing than him, he's a born introvert). By the end of it I realized that I truly am one of them. I AM a McCollum. For years I had attempted to descrivbe myself as mroe a member of my Mother's side, personality wise, but I am now left to wonder. You might wonder why I have shied away from associating with that family:

They once started a riot. I kid you not. I'm not refering to 60's era incidents, which my Father happily took part in, but a simple non-political riot. It was a family get together in Beloit Wisconsin and, supposedly, there was another family on the hill(I believe they were Black). Words were said between the groups, someone sprang to someone elses defense. Perhaps most chillingly is the matter of fact way in which my Aunt Pam discussed the entire situation "Oh yah, that, that was back when your Uncle Steve was still alive. It was all the other family's fault. They started it. Next thing we know, the police are there and they're shooting tear gas at us".

The Dark side is within us all, it seems. I believe I've just met some people who share my own. Of course, what the hell, the dark side has more fun