0748 on a holiday and the family drama starts

Consider turkey-based appetizers. Get that tryptophan in the bloodstream ASAP!

My drama won't begin until around 5:00 p.m. (also at Grandma's). I'm building up my reserves of love and patience by being completely self-centered until then.

My family is full of dramas... At least it's gotten better these last few years.

About 12 years ago, my parents got divorced, which substantially changed our routine with Christmas and birthdays.

So for a while, I was visiting mum's side of the family and then dad's side, one day for each, which was full of drama and my parents trash-talking each other behind their backs.

Recently though, dad has remarried, and he doesn't really see his side of the family anymore. His new wife is pretty cool, so when I visit them I'm not all stressed out and everything.

And as for mum's side of the family, we basically just see the grandparents nowadays (her parents). None of this extended family stuff.

But still they trot out old arguments and grievances, even if the offending person isn't there... So I get to listen to them badmouth people I hardly know...

Yeah. My family is screwy. Or maybe they're normal and I'm the odd one for not getting drawn into it?

There's a lovely story in the NYT today about Thanksgiving by Will Boast. (Enduring Thanksgiving). Made me go quite lump-in-the-throat-y, in a bullish "I'm-an-Aussie-convict-we're-grateful-for-nothing" kind of way.

My family drama started last night. As in pre-Thanksgiving.

I only come home intermittently, and the longer I stay away, the more I think 'you know, they're not that bad. We're a dysfunctional family, but I can stand to be there for two days."

And then when the first meltdown happens fifteen minutes after I walk in the door, I remember why. And keep my bags packed.