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My dad is turning 85 on July 11th. The family decided to surprise him with a birthday party early for 2 reasons: 1) My cousin from Pennsylvania was visiting mid June and 2) I am having surgery July 2 and would not be up to planning a big get together for Dad's birthday. So with these things in mind, plans were made to have as many family members present for the Father's Day weekend. This would combine 3 different "get togethers". Friday night would be a dinner I hosted in my home so dad would know my niece, her husband, and daughter would be here along with my niece's sister, nephew, step dad and mom. I wanted him to have as much quality time with my niece, Heather as possible. He had not seen them for several years and their daughter graduated from High School this past May. Also attending would be my other niece and her family and my nephew and his family as well as their parents (my brother and his wife) and my roommate (who has been adopted as family member).
Friday night was wonderful except for the fact that my sister and her husband tend to nit-pick everything under the sun. 1) Every one knows nothing according to my brother in law and 2) no one has the best of anything except them. They began that evening by proclaiming to one and all that everyone should own an iPhone because you can do so much with them; have apps; multimedia; games; and flashlight.
Sleeping arrangements were made for my sister and her husband (they brought a blow up mattress and would sleep on that) and my cousin would have my bed, while my niece would sleep on the sofa bed with her son. I would share Barbara's room for the weekend. When every one had gone home, my niece came to the bedroom door to ask in a very snooty tone, "Are those sheets clean on the sofa bed? AND if they are NOT, where can I find clean ones?". I was in shock and told her they were clean but had been on the bed and folded up inside the bed. I was angry she would ask that since I had broken my back trying to get the house cleaned, steam cleaned and pressure cleaned, inside and out for 2 wks prior to this event.
The next morning, I made waffles for one and all and then we prepared for Dad's Surprise party. He thought we were just getting together for a dinner with the whole family. He was very surprised and pleased to see one of his sister's kids and his family attending the party. We had a good time with hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken on the grill with various salads and chips as well as a birthday cake complete with a semi truck on it. Dad has driven trucks since he was a teen and drove semi's most of his life and if he could have any wish, it would be to drive one again.
All day long, my sister and brother in law ridiculed my cousin because she cannot swim. They were at the point of harrassing her and she was getting angry. I was also because she was a guest in my home and I wanted her to enjoy her vacation with me. They picked at everything and when they were not doing that, they were playing games on their coveted iPhones. It was very rude. My sister is an alcoholic and that night (though due to health issues she is not supposed to drink) she drank a lot. I was furious when we returned to our home. She and her husband were rude and ugly to just about everyone; making fun of people and their idiosycrasies as if they were the only perfect ones at this party. Every picture that was taken of my niece Heather or her daughter, had to have my sister in it. Her self confidence is so low that she has to be right in the center of everything and making everyone else look stupid. I went to be very angry that night and have since decided that though she is my sister and I will always love her, I do NOT like her and I am disgusted by her husband. She is not someone I want to spend time with and will not put myself in that position again. I think I was upset that night because I finally realized this fact.
Sunday was Father's Day. We all went to my brother's home again where he and his wife had prepared a brunch before my niece Heather, her husband, Ray, and their daughter, Jackie had to return to TX. It was very nice; very relaxed; and many pictures were taken. What I didn't know was that my sister was up to her tricks again.
After we left the brunch, my cousin and I stopped at the grocery store to get things for dinner that night. I was hoping my sister and her family would leave when their daughter left, but she and her family were planning to stay overnight and go home Monday! Joy to the World!!!!
We were eating Sloppy Joe's for dinner and everyone was chattering. My dad was with us also. We had my sister, her husband, daughter, and grandson, my dad, my cousin, my roommate and myself at the table. My cousin was again the target of ridicule by my sister and her husband. They were teasing her again about the swimming but now also, they were teasing her for wearing "cheater" eye glasses that she bought at a Dollar Store. She wore 2 pairs when she was reading. So that became the newest assault. Mid dinner, Robin, my cousin, had had her fill. She stood up at the table, threw her glasses across the room and screamed that she did not care what they thought about her glasses; she did not have to do things their way; she did not need an iPhone, she was very happy with her cell phone that she had; AND she was very happy with her glasses and she didn't care if they broke because they only cost $1.00. (i have omitted the string of profanities that were whirling around the table). My six yr old great nephew didn't know what was going on and could not figure out WHY she had thrown her glasses. She stomped out of the dining room, taking her food with her into her bedroom and everyone left at the table were frozen in shock. Then as if nothing had just happened, everyone began eating again.
About 9 PM, Robin did come back out of her room. My sister and her daughter and grandson were "playing" Rummy and Robin joined in with them. I don't know what my sister had taken, but she could not concentrate at all on the cards and I ended up taking her place. She just stared at them as if she could not see them or she didn't know what to do with them. I think she must have taken several tranquilizers.
My poor dad was lost in the confusion. I did (this weekend) explain everything that had happened so he would understand why Robin was so upset with Cheryl and her husband. All he said was they are so unhappy with their lives but they think they are happy.
So..... just as my sister began this Get Together with chaos by inviting my brother's ex wife to the party, when his current wife was going to be there...she ended the weekend by alienating her cousin; confusing her father; and clarifying my relationship with her. When they left to go home, around 10 AM, everyone left in the house, gave a collective sigh of relief.
If we could have ignored all the things my sister and her husband perpetuated during the weekend, it was a wonderful time with family and friends; full of love and harmony. I have posted numerous pictures in an album called Dad's 85th Birthday and Father's Day. Please feel free to peruse it. My sister and her husband are both very dysfunctional (to the point of being obnoxiously abusive to those around). They were both quite surprised that someone would stand up to them and not let them get away with their behavior. I have always protected and defended my sister because I am the older sister. That was my role....to take care of the younger kids while I was growing up....but I realized that weekend, I no longer need to do that. I can no longer defend and try to explain her behavior, nor do I have to tolerate it.
So, it was good.... there were dads..... and it got ugly....but I love my family and was very glad I got to be around all of my nieces/ nephews/ great nieces and nephews.... and have time with 2 of my 4 siblings and my dad. I guess I would do it all over again (with revisions).
Enjoy the pictures!!!