Posted by fallsfall on November 1, 2004, at 17:42:32
My son is in the Army. He left for Japan yesterday - he'll be there for 3 years. He has been 1000 miles away for the last 1 1/2 years. He is 19.
So he came home for 2 weeks before going to Japan. I thought it would be nice for his grandparents and aunts to get to see him before he left, so I arranged a family party for Saturday. I told people they could come anytime after 1 (when I get home from work), and that we would eat late afternoon (hopefully before the trick or treaters started ringing the doorbell). One sister had a meeting in my area and said she would be here after 3:30 or 4 (she is living 500 miles away right now). The other sister decided not to come because her mother-in-law died a week ago (this was completely understandable and acceptable). My oldest came home from college to be at the party and say goodbye to her brother.
I got home at 1:30. My oldest and my son arrived around 2:30 (they were both staying at their dad's). My parents came at 3:30(?). They came in, I was cutting things up for dinner. They stood in the front hallway (without turning the light on) with my son and said hello. Then they started asking about his last year in the Army and what he knew about Japan. I suggested that they might want to sit down in the family room - so they did. (My oldest was on the computer deciding who to vote for) I listened to the conversation from the kitchen. My parents had questions for my son, and he answered them. It wasn't really a conversation - it was more like he was giving a report. My youngest joined them (she took a shower after work), and the inquisition of my son continued.
At some point, my oldest went in, and they asked her some questions. I joined them briefly and we talked a little about baseball (my son in a Yankees fan...). My dad brought a video of 5 minutes of a magician who he thinks is really good, so they watched that twice. Then it was dinner time. During dinner the trick or treaters started coming (but there weren't many it was pretty rainy). A few more questions were asked of my kids. And we talked a little bit about dancing (my youngest's passion). After dinner my two daughters demonstrated some Swing Dance.
My mother called me aside to show me a floor plan of an assisted living apartment that they have put a deposit on (it will be ready in 1 1/2 years). My sister has been talking to them about going into assisted living for 5 years now, but my father has been refusing. She didn't show this to my kids, nor did my father join in this conversation.
Then we all stood in the living room (where the dance demonstration was) and looked at each other. After about 30 seconds my mother sayd "Well, I guess we should go now", my father agreed. It was 7PM. My parents and sister left.
It seemed like a strange party to me. More like an inquisition, a report. Just the facts, Ma'am.
What do other families do when they get together? How strange is my family?
poster:fallsfall
thread:410258
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041026/msgs/410258.html