Thanksgiving

Well, I just got home from the ancestral pile. Jr. J is marvelous. Sleeps a lot. His skin is sooo soft. He smells really, really good. Like baby powder and poop (a winning combination, I know). At 10 days old, it looks like he's got his grandad's hairline and ears. I'm tempted to go out and have unprotected sex with a random guy just.... no. Let's nip that thought in the bud right now. I'm pretty sure my parts don't work and that's a stupid move.

As usual, there was lots of talking, and lots of laughter. The highlights were as follows:

Me, to Mini B: It's totally cool if you want to take off your clothes, but please keep your hand out of your butt. That's gross.

Mini B's Mom: Misstea, you need to talk to her father.

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Big J, interrupting my story: Wait a minute, tell me more about this handyman.

Me: Well, he's this little Romanian guy with kids about our age. He calls me "nice young lady" and insisted I come to meet his wife and drink some wine...

Big J: I don't want to hear that! I thought you had a boyfriend!

Me: So you don't want to hear about my interior decorator, then?

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Aunt M: Your Uncle A needs a pair of socks.

Me: Umn... my brothers don't have Misstea socks.

Sister-in-law: Look! There's a hole in the toe of my sock! (not mine - I looked).

Cousin O (Aunt M's grandson): I want to learn how to knit!

Me: And did you ever start that lawn mowing business we discussed earlier in the summer?

Cousin O: Well...

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Grandma: So, Misstea, tell me what's going on.

Me: What do you want to know?

Grandma: Everything. Tell me what you think.

Me: Umn, well the house is good, and work is good, and I'm taking classes, and the G7 finance ministers are meeting this weekend to work out a deal....

Grandma: I knew you would know. You're my smartest girl.

Me (to myself): well, at least she's not telling me I'm a failure because there's no one to look after me when I am old. And making me cry.

Grandma continues: So I'm going in for a gall bladder operation on Thursday...

Me (to myself): I need a smoke and a drink.

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Dad: For the first time in my life, I sent a cheque for $100 off to the Liberal Party. I just really like Cousin R. Whenever I hear him speak, he sounds real.

Me: Dad, Cousin R is the wrong flavour!

Dad: Well, after taxes, it only costs me $36.

Me: Well, at least you have an opinion. And you care.

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Mom and I were sitting around in the kitchen, eating olives and reading our respective newspapers. She had been querying me about her car. Was it useful to me? Did I get done what I needed to get done? Is the cupboard stocked for the winter? I laughed, and told her that I had shopped myself out, as I had, just a couple of days previously, found myself wandering down the kitchen aisle considering buying silicon muffin tins (isn't that an oxymoron!) just because I had sooo much food and thought I wanted to bake more.

She was quiet for a moment, and then said, "Those were the best pies I've had in a long time."

Well, that's a hint, if I've ever heard one.

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Dropping me off at the bus depot:

Mom: And your father is buying your ticket.

Me: No, that's OK.

Mom: We spend money on your brothers, and it's only fair. Don't argue.

So, I get out of the car, with my dad, and we walk into the bus depot. He's telling me all about how the government just sends him a cheque for $1,000 every month, and he doesn't even need the money.

Me: Um, Dad, do you realize that it's your money? You paid into that for years. It was enforced savings.

Dad: Yes, but I haven't touched that account in months.

Me: But it's your money. You deserve it. You don't need to work so hard, if there's money coming in.

Dad: crickets chirping

Me: So anyway, I'll call you when I get home...

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My father's CPP is only $1,000 a month!?!?! He's a lucky one, who was able to save, had a spouse with a job. He's a man who has busted his ass, honoured his obligations, never spent a dime he didn't have to (I have had two family vacations with my dad. One when I was six, and the other when I was 34!) He neglected his family for all those years.... and he's paying out on the higher end, I know it. And it's only $1,000!!!

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Oi. Love my family. Love them, love them, love them. I truly do. Espescially when Mini J was happy to see me at 8:30 AM (she remembered me from yesterday). But around the 24 hour mark, I want to be at home, with my cats, and my books, and my knitting, and wine. Oh, dear sweet wine. I'm very thankful for you, right now.