prodigal

Not only because the AH is about as crazy as a sh**-house rat most of the time, but there are lots of family "things" that really stick out this time of year. Nobody in AH's family has contact with one another except at Christmas. I realize some families are close-knit and some are like this bunch of replicants. But I suppose I'm growing weary of so much rabid dysfunction swirling all about. So here I sit addressing Christmas cards and here I sit knowing I'll get the yearly gifts and cards - complete with his sister's page-long typed-and-sent-to-everyone-on-earth letter that chronicles the charmed life her family leads - but this year it seems stranger than usual.

Maybe I'm reaching my maximum weirdness-tolerance zone. AH just HAD to assemble the tree right after Thanksgiving and drag out all the other junk I have collected over the years to make our humble abode so ho-ho-ho jolly for the holidays. So as of Saturday the tree was still in the living room. No lights on it. No ornaments trimmed on its lovely branches. They were all out on the living room table in boxes. I finally tossed the lights on the poor tree because it looked so forlorn (and ugly). However, I WAS torn between the joy of stringing lights or just throwing the d**n tree into our swimming pool.

Now I realize that communication amongst AH's family is sporadic or just plain weird. That well-known fact, coupled with my cousin who has not spoken to me for almost 7 months ... I feel as if I'm living through some surreal experience. Sent my cousin a present anyway, since I always do. Maybe someday he'll decide to get that knot out of his jockeys and let me know what put it there ...

I just can't wait to see what sort of drunken antics AH will perform come Christmas Eve ... last year he threw about $400 worth of food for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner in a dumpster! Hey, I didn't pay for the food! LOL! Now I know why I'm glad when this whole doggone holiday "thing" is over! Jeesh!