We had our Thanksgiving dinner together today, which was a real treat to us since we don't always have lots of family around during the holidays. We spent some time the day before working on decorations:
Nathan and his Mom made the entire dinner, while everyone else just hung out.
It was really a lovely time. Just hanging out and chatting and having a nice time together. At some point though, it became not so fun. I was reminded of a movie that we watched one time where the adult "children" go home for the holidays and some people end up wrestling on the lawn and the Mom or someone turns the hose on them.
I will leave the details between those of us who were involved, but it was full of the kind of drama that I (and probably everyone else) do not enjoy. It was full of the kind of raw emotion that is oh so human and oh so draining. The interesting part is, it is the kind of drama that is very typical of my family but not typical in the least for Nathan's family. Has me wondering if my family will end up having the nice, calm version of the holidays this year. And I'm not saying that to poke fun at either side of the family. I'm sharing that because the older I get, the more I see that people, life, things in general just seem to go through cycles. It's just life. It helps to put things in perspective some when I remember that.
In the meantime, I'm going to try very hard to remember these parts and be grateful for them:
Because I've also noticed the older I get, that remembering the bad stuff takes no effort. Remembering there is good amidst the bad does take some effort. So I'm working on finding that balance today, and hoping the others involved will too. The issues underneath the drama will most likely take a long time to resolve. So I'm guessing that balance will need to be sought after in an ongoing way. It's the kind of stuff that can knit families even closer together, and I sincerely hope that is the end result here. This isn't the first of the difficult issue to deal with as a family and I doubt it will be the last. Again, it's life.
In the meantime, my friend Eileen will know exactly what I mean when I say a line from the movie Postcards From the Edge, "It TWIRLED". Ah....indeed it did!
Still oh so thankful for my family and so thankful for being able to share the holidays with them. Living the life in Virginia!
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9 comments:
Ahhhhh Family. Don's family is full of the drama. Mine not so much so. But, oh - I know what you mean.
I love your perspective on it.
Family drama is the worst. I really do hope everyone can come together, work out the issues, and forgive.
I don't miss that drama one bit. I've been through it too many times to speak of.
well krystal, kudos to you
the rawness of this entry is one of the reasons i like you/your blog most... you are so open and touch on topics that are universal... always great to put a positive spin on things and yet not shy away from discussing some of the poop in life! (did i just say poop? haven't sworn on blogger before :) anyways, i'm glad you had fun with the decor and that the issues get sorted out... it all takes time- and perhaps distance :)
Wow Kris, really?
Yeah, really. =(
Thanks all for sharing that you can relate and that this is just part of the rawness and realities of life.
I write this blog for my children, to help capture our journey, so I try to be as honest as I can be with what is only my version of the story. I do try to find the positive, and I do try to call poop-well, poop-when I see it that way.
I know you all will understand when I say-it is all a part living so it is also a part of learning. We deal with it as it comes, talk about it as a family and try to figure out the best solution for us. The rest we work hard to let go of, and leave behind so it is not dragging us down. Easier said then done, but again-it is learning for all of us and that is a valuable thing.
What a great perspective, Krystal. I wish I could be more like that!
Kandy
It Twirled!
Yep, it sure did!
whew
(can't tell you how much I am touched to be named by you here!)
And the movie "Home for the Holidays" is one of Allison's favorites. Once she got a copy of a different ad that had all the characters in it and she cut out and pasted face of members of our extended family over their faces. I still have it! Funny.
love you and wow, way to go with the honesty.
Eileen, I am laughing sooo hard at what Allison did. That is so something my crew would do!
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