Nov. 28: Eat and Run in These Foolish Things

Hi. Back from Mom and Dad’s. It was a true eat and run scenario, so there’s not much to write about.

The weather has finally cooled down so it truly felt like Thanksgiving today.

The 3-hour drive there was uneventful. I listened to a Mel Robbins podcast about how to get along with your family and make things workable if you struggle with family dynamics. It was mostly about changing your own way of looking at things. Since your family will never change, the change has to be within yourself.

My family was fine - mom and dad doing great for what’s going on with them (aging); brother grumpy as ever and truly not lifting a finger due to actually having surgery on his pinky and using that as an excuse to not do anything; SIL is depressed and it shows (and my bro only adds fuel to the depression fire); niece turned 9 last week and is in an awkward stage, and it’s sometimes a little uncomfortable, but she’s good.

Like, no drama whatsoever because, like I said, I was in and out. Hello…eat…hang out for a while…and then the 3-hour drive home.

I did tell them about The Diary Researchers because now that the cat is out of the bag, I felt like it was something interesting to discuss at the dinner table. I don’t think my mom really understood what I was talking about, but my dad was pretty fascinated and so was my brother.

I feel a little sorry for my sister-in-law, but then I remember trying to warn her lo those many, many years ago over a couple bottles of wine in Qingdao, China. I know that love makes people do crazy things, but being in a marriage with my brother is probably the craziest thing she’s ever experienced. I don’t feel that sorry, though, since she bamboozled my parents out of a LOT of money (long story), so now she is paying it back in karmic currency.

Wow. I guess I did have a few things to say.

I dunno. Life is funny. Family is strange. Love/hate.

Let them be who they are going to be. I can’t change anything - I can only strive to be the best me that I can be.

I’m still thankful to be here and on this ride.

xox,
GS