Monday, December 12, 2005
Another Sunday
Today is my 100th post, I can't believe it. I wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion but couldn't figure out what so I just decided to post about my week-end.
Julie and her family arrived around 10:30 on Saturday morning. They came with enough stuff to stay for a week I swear, Julie is a very good guest and packs everyting, including her own bedding and blueberry bagles..hahaha. Baby girl had gone to pick up her newest 'fella' (not sure yet if he is her boyfriend) to introduce him to some of the family. Maybe this was her way of scaring him away..hmmmm. We all sat and visited for a bit and then then men, baby girl and Julie's baby girl hit the road to attend a hockey game in Orono with Big guy. Julie and I stayed home to start preperations for the big event on Sunday. Of course we started with a drink....or two. Yes, I will admit that I got a bit tipsy, as did she, we chatted, we laughed, we (she) danced, we (I) even cried a little. I really enjoyed her company. We then fried chix and venison for the next couple hours. She FORCED me to go for a walk in the cold. It was only about 1.5 miles but with the way she was 'staggering' all over the road it ended up being 3 miles. Being the party animals that we are we then fell asleep watching Polar Express...Whoo hoo.
I always approach such family gatherings very apprehensively, I always expect the worst, think of everything that could go wrong, whine, complain, ect. ect. ect. Well Sunday was no different. We did get everything ready, in fact it was ready FAR too early. I had laid out all the appetizers at about 11:30 expecting that my guests would begin arriving around then for the meal was to be served at 1. Nobody showed up until 12:50...NOT one person, therefore the appetizers were quickly removed and replaced with dinner. We crammed 21 people into my living room and fed them. Then we removed all of the tables so that there would be room for the kids to open their gifts, which they quickly did....and everyone, except Julie and family, were quickly back out the door before 3. Lots of work and stress for 2 hours. IT IS OVER! Yeah!
My family then headed to Dexter (40 mins away) for a candle lighting ceremony for Children who have died. This is a national event that strated 9 years ago. My sister and her husband founded a chapter of Compassionate Friends after the loss of their daughter 3 years ago. She always invites our whole family and this is the 3rd year that nobody except me and mine has showed up. I know that it really bothers her that the rest of the family won't attend but she hides it well. He daughter sang, people read poems and tell stories of their lost ones. It is a very emotional time, Baby girl cried for an hour. Her away message on AIM was to her cousin Savannah (the one we lost), tell her how much she is missed and how the candle ceremony brought back so many memories both good and bad. She doesn't talk about Vannah very often so it is good for her to get it off her chest once in a while. I'm proud of my baby girl for going with us, she knew that it would be hard but, unlike my dad and siblings, she went anyway...for me...for her aunt...for becca...and for Savannah.
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