OK, so here was my weekend:
Friday: left work early, got on the road early, but still took 5 hours to make the usual 4 hour trip to my parents house in TN. Should have expected it, I guess -- holiday traffic. Got a ticket on the way (my fault, had disengaged the cruise control and wasn't paying attention). Arrived at the parents' house -- my little sister was waiting in the driveway (as is her custom). Had a pizza with mom and sis (Dad was up at our lake house). Called a couple of old friends. Went to bed.
Saturday: Got up and went up to the aforementioned lake house. Little brother and some of his friends were there already (Dad had gone on with mom and sis to Day 1 of annual family reunion in KY). Was joined by my oldest friend, his wife, and my 2 darling god-daughters. Spent the day swimming and hanging out. Took the boat out for a spin. Re-applied sunscreen frequently, as I don't so much burn as blister. Cooked out on the grill, then headed back to my parents' house after dark. My best friend and her boyfriend stopped by to hang out for a bit. Stayed up late chatting.
Sunday: Got up to meet little brother at 10 am (he was an hour late). Drove up to South Eastern KY for Day 2 of Annual Family Reunion. I hadn't been in 4 years or so, but it was much the same. Was hoping our lateness would mean that I would miss the usual speeches, prayers, etc -- boy was I wrong. Arrived to find my eldest aunt corralling all of the small kids into a line and shoving miniature American flags into their hands, whereupon she started a tape of kids singing patriotic songs to synthesized backup music, and made the kids march around in a circle, waving the flags. (The kids were mystified, and clearly not a little uncomfortable). Then my aunt insisted that we all say the Pledge of Allegiance (which I have not done since High School) and sing a verse of "God Bless America." Now, I'm used to my aunt (who is one of the most conservative Christians I have ever personally known) indulging in Jesus and patriotism (frequently obliging whatever kids are close by to do the same), but this was a little much. Even though these family reunions have always been Memorial Day weekend, there's never been much flag-waving. The other, more moderate members of the family sat by, staring into their cans of diet soda and waiting for the picnic to start. And start it did, but not without the series of prayers and affirmations that are the price of a fried chicken feast in my family. Ate a shitload of fried food, and more or less successfully avoided talking to the swarm of great-uncles and fourth-cousins whose names and faces Ive never been able to remember (fortunately, the family long ago took to making name tags for everyone, so you could see who was who and how you were related to them). Up next was the (mercifully brief) trip to the local cemetery, where my great-grandparents and their kin are buried.
And then back to TN again. Had to make a stop by the lake house on the way home to pick up my camera arrived to discover my father in a rage: apparently, my little brother (who had stayed there the previous night with his friends) had left the place rather trashed. My father, who had spent the previous two weeks cleaning and getting the place ready for the summer season, was understandably peeved unfortunately, this was expressed by a lot of roaring, cursing, and name-calling (directed at my brother) as he stomped around the place cleaning. My brother (who says he had planned on returning that evening to finish cleaning and hadnt expected my parents to beat him there) was seething ever since he came out, hes taken any criticism from my father to be anti-gay invective even though this time he knew he wasnt blameless. I offered to stay and help, but was politely refused by both dad and brother. Knowing better than to get between the two of them when their blood is up, I high-tailed it back to my parents house.
But the day wasnt over yet! I joined my best friend, her boyfriend, and another couple for something I havent experienced since I was a wee lad: a drive-in movie triple feature. We drove over to the next town where, for a mere $5, you could see Ice Age 2 , X Men 3 and The Sentinel . Cheap concessions, cold beer, and a fun, carnival kind of atmosphere. Although, I think I might have to go see X-Men again in a theater it was a little hard to see some of the dark scenes. Finally made it home at 2 am (didnt bother to stay for the last one heard it sucked anyway).
Monday: Slept in, and drove back home. Mostly a good weekend it was great to get out of town for a while, though I could have done without the Jesus and the flags and the family drama. But you take the bad with the good, I guess.
And, since this has been a ludicrously long journal entry, now I will shut up.
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
Friday: left work early, got on the road early, but still took 5 hours to make the usual 4 hour trip to my parents house in TN. Should have expected it, I guess -- holiday traffic. Got a ticket on the way (my fault, had disengaged the cruise control and wasn't paying attention). Arrived at the parents' house -- my little sister was waiting in the driveway (as is her custom). Had a pizza with mom and sis (Dad was up at our lake house). Called a couple of old friends. Went to bed.
Saturday: Got up and went up to the aforementioned lake house. Little brother and some of his friends were there already (Dad had gone on with mom and sis to Day 1 of annual family reunion in KY). Was joined by my oldest friend, his wife, and my 2 darling god-daughters. Spent the day swimming and hanging out. Took the boat out for a spin. Re-applied sunscreen frequently, as I don't so much burn as blister. Cooked out on the grill, then headed back to my parents' house after dark. My best friend and her boyfriend stopped by to hang out for a bit. Stayed up late chatting.
Sunday: Got up to meet little brother at 10 am (he was an hour late). Drove up to South Eastern KY for Day 2 of Annual Family Reunion. I hadn't been in 4 years or so, but it was much the same. Was hoping our lateness would mean that I would miss the usual speeches, prayers, etc -- boy was I wrong. Arrived to find my eldest aunt corralling all of the small kids into a line and shoving miniature American flags into their hands, whereupon she started a tape of kids singing patriotic songs to synthesized backup music, and made the kids march around in a circle, waving the flags. (The kids were mystified, and clearly not a little uncomfortable). Then my aunt insisted that we all say the Pledge of Allegiance (which I have not done since High School) and sing a verse of "God Bless America." Now, I'm used to my aunt (who is one of the most conservative Christians I have ever personally known) indulging in Jesus and patriotism (frequently obliging whatever kids are close by to do the same), but this was a little much. Even though these family reunions have always been Memorial Day weekend, there's never been much flag-waving. The other, more moderate members of the family sat by, staring into their cans of diet soda and waiting for the picnic to start. And start it did, but not without the series of prayers and affirmations that are the price of a fried chicken feast in my family. Ate a shitload of fried food, and more or less successfully avoided talking to the swarm of great-uncles and fourth-cousins whose names and faces Ive never been able to remember (fortunately, the family long ago took to making name tags for everyone, so you could see who was who and how you were related to them). Up next was the (mercifully brief) trip to the local cemetery, where my great-grandparents and their kin are buried.
And then back to TN again. Had to make a stop by the lake house on the way home to pick up my camera arrived to discover my father in a rage: apparently, my little brother (who had stayed there the previous night with his friends) had left the place rather trashed. My father, who had spent the previous two weeks cleaning and getting the place ready for the summer season, was understandably peeved unfortunately, this was expressed by a lot of roaring, cursing, and name-calling (directed at my brother) as he stomped around the place cleaning. My brother (who says he had planned on returning that evening to finish cleaning and hadnt expected my parents to beat him there) was seething ever since he came out, hes taken any criticism from my father to be anti-gay invective even though this time he knew he wasnt blameless. I offered to stay and help, but was politely refused by both dad and brother. Knowing better than to get between the two of them when their blood is up, I high-tailed it back to my parents house.
But the day wasnt over yet! I joined my best friend, her boyfriend, and another couple for something I havent experienced since I was a wee lad: a drive-in movie triple feature. We drove over to the next town where, for a mere $5, you could see Ice Age 2 , X Men 3 and The Sentinel . Cheap concessions, cold beer, and a fun, carnival kind of atmosphere. Although, I think I might have to go see X-Men again in a theater it was a little hard to see some of the dark scenes. Finally made it home at 2 am (didnt bother to stay for the last one heard it sucked anyway).
Monday: Slept in, and drove back home. Mostly a good weekend it was great to get out of town for a while, though I could have done without the Jesus and the flags and the family drama. But you take the bad with the good, I guess.
And, since this has been a ludicrously long journal entry, now I will shut up.
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
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