Jack Frost roasting on open fire, chestnuts nipping at your nose...

[hummingwolf]

My family almost never has a Christmas celebration on December 25. This year's celebration was yesterday--scheduled without noticing the fact that it was the winter solstice, so that was a neat coincidence. While my brothers, their wives, and I have exchanged plenty of e-mails this year, yesterday was the first time we'd all been together in over a year. Given the wee touch of rancor in our dealings recently, I wasn't sure if I should look forward to it or not. But we--along with a couple other family members & friends--had a fun time together.

The preceding doesn't mean we didn't needle each other any. Though I wasn't consciously out to hurt anyone, I realize afterwards that some of my comments drew a bit of blood. One of my brothers was at least partly consciously trying to get some jabs in; and though the other one may not have been conscious of what he was doing, he was doing the same things too. Yet it isn't fair of me to focus on the pricking and poking among us, because again, we did have fun. It was a good meal, (mostly) good conversation (wherein I learned that even my distant relatives are geeks), and I got still more food to bring home with me.

It's interesting to get an outsider's perspective sometimes. Even when my family is at each others' throats (or seeming to gang up on me in my most vulnerable moments), we still love each other. Some of our visitors can't say that much for their families. So for now, I am grateful.

Note: You folks reading should be grateful the computer wasn't on earlier when I wrote a long babbling screed about individuality and unity and quantum physics. I might have posted the thing--and you best believe me when I say it wouldn't have been pretty.

Comments

[whitelinefever.livejournal.com]

I say any family gathering not visited by paramedics is a good one.Looking forward to some uproarious string theory.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

it's great that it went that well! i was wondering if you were going to go visit family on wednesday. do you have a party to go to or anything? i'd happily come & get you, unless it does snow heavily. ... the weather channel page seems to have changed its mind entirely about the snow. we'd be glad to have you, but we're very boring people. :D

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

You're right, the lack of a need for paramedic visits is a good thing. Would've been nice if there'd been a complete absence of wounding (I hate the feel of alcohol on an open cut), but then I would've worried that my family had been abducted by aliens and replaced with brain-eating pod people of some kind.

Oh, you don't want to see me trying to deal with string theory. I end up getting all tangled like one of Schrödinger's wayward kittens and running around chasing my own tail in several different universes and flopping onto multiple floors in an exhausted heap. Come to think of it, that probably would be entertaining for some of the spectators. Just don't let me near any of the catnip or there will be trouble.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

What are they saying about snow? Last I knew they thought there might be a rain/snow mix ending in flurries, but I haven't been paying enough attention lately. And you guys are *not* boring.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

gerry told me on the phone just now that the TV weather channel is still saying snow, but the online weather page for laurel shows cloudy/windy for wednesday. as i said, barring heavy snow or ice, i'd be glad to come & get you, if you'd like. ted has requested spaghetti & (turkey) meatballs, and i plan to make another pumpkin pie just because it's my fave rave. and i have some of those Lindt amaretto truffles... (am i wheedling a little too blatantly? haha)