I was still a big baby at moments this past week. At 3:30 AM when I was walking out the door to get to the airport, I whined and kicked and pouted just like you least favorite little nephew or cousin. When we finally arrived in Michigan, and the good doctor drove us to Joyce's house, I started to tear up a little.
I kept to myself in the back seat and thought about my family. It was noon-ish, so at least one of my aunts would be showing up and trying to help my frantic mother put things on the table or in the oven. About 12:45, we were just a few miles from our final destination, and I knew my whole family would be assembled around the dinning room table. Daddy would be offering the mealtime prayer. Our dog, Wendy, would either be sniffing at people's shoes or jumping on the screen door outside wondering why all these people who clearly had come to see her were all inside the house ignoring her.
I kept to myself in the back seat and thought about my family. It was noon-ish, so at least one of my aunts would be showing up and trying to help my frantic mother put things on the table or in the oven. About 12:45, we were just a few miles from our final destination, and I knew my whole family would be assembled around the dinning room table. Daddy would be offering the mealtime prayer. Our dog, Wendy, would either be sniffing at people's shoes or jumping on the screen door outside wondering why all these people who clearly had come to see her were all inside the house ignoring her.
As 3pm rolled around and I had been eating pickles and talking with relatives, I realized that my family was probably beginning to disperse to whatever other plans they had that evening. My mother was probably swatting the people trying to help with the cleaning process and conceding defeat to her equally pushy sisters. I felt the sadness dissipate. I had missed the family celebration, so, I could no longer feel left out. I took a shower to wash off the plane ick and we went to Thanksgiving dinner.
The house we went to for dinner, where Joyce's family meets every year for the November holiday, is ridiculous. It's right by the water and it's rather large with huge windows and a big kitchen. Some workers had been hired to help with the massive amount of food and preparations that went into serving over 30 people.We started with appetizers downstairs and moved upstairs to the tables for dinner after about an hour and a half. This is a very full family... kids, teens, young adults, parents, grandparents... The number was overwhelming. Joyce told me that this was an "off year" because there are usually closer to 50 people. Compared to my humble 15-20 relatives that tend to visit for Thanksgiving, it was easy to get lost in the crowd.
The next night hosted the same number of people at Joyce's house for a spaghetti dinner after a family bowling trip. Every year on Black Friday, this family takes up 6-8 bowling lanes and actually competes for a little Turkey Bowl Trophy. They have T-shirts and everything... too bad they asked me to join the game, though. I earned a whopping 73 points the first round and a striking 88 points the second round (bowling is not my game, as you can see). All the points from each team were totaled to find a winner. As you may have guessed, our team lost.
It was funny to see this family tradition unfold. This is a very diverse group of people with varying personalities, talents, interests, etc... and yet they are all willing to humor one another and hurl heavy balls at innocent pins together. They support one another and the desire to do things together. They are not a freakishly large family of want-to-be pro bowlers... just people who go along with family outings when they're all in town to promote their togetherness. They young people still grumble about the same old questions from the adults and the elders obliviously ask them again and again what they're doing, who they're seeing, what's in the future agenda, etc... so, they're like any other family. But they make up for the time they can't spend together during the year with more than just dinner.
I found that pretty special. My immediate family is pretty good about doing things together outside of holidays and dinners... but I wonder if it's possible to infuse any new traditions, special outings, in which my extended family would willingly participate. It just makes for a great memory and for a sense of security... that these people really are the ones who will be there for you when you need or want something. If you can participate in indoor sports together, maybe you can convince your Aunt Shirley or Cousin Ned to go with you to that museum you want to visit in their part of town. Even if it's not Shirley or Ned's favored interest, they went bowling every Thanksgiving, so perhaps they'll go to be with you.
It was even harder to wake up at 3 AM for another early morning flight the next day. I'm still paying for the lack of sleep. After we landed in Virginia, I went straight to the salon for a haircut. It's when I'm taken out of my typical surroundings that my imperfections stick out more prominently. I've been meaning to get a cut for weeks, but when I stepped off that plane it was urgent! Had to be done.
So, I'm wiped out, ten pounds lighter in the head, (don't want to discuss how much food I ate), and preparing for the next round of winter holidays. Being with Joyce's family for Thanksgiving lent me more inspiration than it caused me discomfort in being away from home. If I had to be anywhere other than my mother's and Anya's for Thanksgiving, I'd want to be with Joyce, Jerusha, Norah, Micah, Dr. Sella, Judy, Ron, Melissa, Ron, Arlene, Micheal, Susie, Lisa, Grandma Pearl, Grandma Fanny, and the rest of this lovely family visiting Orchard Lake this time of year...
The next night hosted the same number of people at Joyce's house for a spaghetti dinner after a family bowling trip. Every year on Black Friday, this family takes up 6-8 bowling lanes and actually competes for a little Turkey Bowl Trophy. They have T-shirts and everything... too bad they asked me to join the game, though. I earned a whopping 73 points the first round and a striking 88 points the second round (bowling is not my game, as you can see). All the points from each team were totaled to find a winner. As you may have guessed, our team lost.
It was funny to see this family tradition unfold. This is a very diverse group of people with varying personalities, talents, interests, etc... and yet they are all willing to humor one another and hurl heavy balls at innocent pins together. They support one another and the desire to do things together. They are not a freakishly large family of want-to-be pro bowlers... just people who go along with family outings when they're all in town to promote their togetherness. They young people still grumble about the same old questions from the adults and the elders obliviously ask them again and again what they're doing, who they're seeing, what's in the future agenda, etc... so, they're like any other family. But they make up for the time they can't spend together during the year with more than just dinner.
I found that pretty special. My immediate family is pretty good about doing things together outside of holidays and dinners... but I wonder if it's possible to infuse any new traditions, special outings, in which my extended family would willingly participate. It just makes for a great memory and for a sense of security... that these people really are the ones who will be there for you when you need or want something. If you can participate in indoor sports together, maybe you can convince your Aunt Shirley or Cousin Ned to go with you to that museum you want to visit in their part of town. Even if it's not Shirley or Ned's favored interest, they went bowling every Thanksgiving, so perhaps they'll go to be with you.
It was even harder to wake up at 3 AM for another early morning flight the next day. I'm still paying for the lack of sleep. After we landed in Virginia, I went straight to the salon for a haircut. It's when I'm taken out of my typical surroundings that my imperfections stick out more prominently. I've been meaning to get a cut for weeks, but when I stepped off that plane it was urgent! Had to be done.
So, I'm wiped out, ten pounds lighter in the head, (don't want to discuss how much food I ate), and preparing for the next round of winter holidays. Being with Joyce's family for Thanksgiving lent me more inspiration than it caused me discomfort in being away from home. If I had to be anywhere other than my mother's and Anya's for Thanksgiving, I'd want to be with Joyce, Jerusha, Norah, Micah, Dr. Sella, Judy, Ron, Melissa, Ron, Arlene, Micheal, Susie, Lisa, Grandma Pearl, Grandma Fanny, and the rest of this lovely family visiting Orchard Lake this time of year...
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