This 4th of July was... interesting

[malada]

I was planning on a 4th of July holiday as a quiet day to get stuff done around the house, when younger brother calls me around 1:30 PM to invite me... belatedly... to his cook out. I'd just eaten lunch.

He apologized but I was a little miffed. However, my brothers and I are getting to that age when we only see people at funerals... so a chance to see my closest relatives while they are still breathing was one I couldn't turn down.

After a 45 minute drive - he truly lives out in the sticks - I arrived. I wasn't that hungry but how could I turn down chicken speidies, creamy coleslaw, and bean and bacon stuff? Most of the people there were my brother's friends so I really didn't know anyone. My family: older brother, younger brother, both wives and nephew greeted me warmly and I sat, ate and listened a lot.

They're all gun nuts. I'm not.

They like to drink. I don't drink. I miss the rare beer but it's just not good for me.

They're Republican and Libertarian. I'm a Democrat.

Yeah, a little uncomfortable. However, no politics or philosophy were discussed. They know better than to get into religious/philosophic arguments with me. I'll *bruise* them - and I'll *like* it - and they *know* it. Still, a little uncomfortable at times. But I smiled and drank root beer.

Eh, family. What can you do?

Comments

[dewline]

Yeah, that sort of discomfort is becoming less unfamiliar to me as I age.

[siliconshaman]

Well, at least they've got some sense... or sense of self preservation and know not to poke the bear.

[acelightning73]

When I celebrated my 50th anniversary, I had an idea for a large elaborate cake, but there was no point in trying to put together a party. But most of the people who were at my wedding are now gone - my parents, my in-laws, my husbands friends from college, MY friends from college. So no big party with a cake covered with gold edible glitter. We just ate our little cake at home, when we got back from NYC. Well, my cousin the archaologist, who was my maid of honor, is still alive and kicking. And a friend I refer to as my "brother" - we were born into different families by mistake - is doing okay, except his Chinese-born wife has a lot of relatives in Shanghai that they have to go visit every so often.

Yeah, I'm running out of relatives.

[sandypawozbun]

Yay for family. I'm glad they behaved, but I'd be ticked off too to receive an invite so late in the day.

[malada]

I was a bit miffed but I'd rather see my family while we're still breathing, even if they are Republicans and Libertarian gun nuts.