house guests (long)

19 years ago

Within a couple months of my uncle drinking himself to death, his only son, who is now 21, moved to Indiana to stretch his wings and make a go of it with his band. The younger of his two sisters joined him last summer. Last weekend he moved back to ND and I got to host him for a night in transit. While he was here, I asked about his little sister, who was staying behind. The three siblings are model-gorgeous, and baby sis has amazing, thick, long hair. Or had such hair. She got some weird strain of alopecia and it all fell out. A couple days before he left, he helped her shave the few remaining tresses and buy a wig.

So baby sis is bald, alone, homesickÃ¢ÂÂ¦ and only 18. She hasnÃ¢ÂÂt been home for any holidays this year and is feeling isolated and unsure of herself. I remember only too well what thatÃ¢ÂÂs like (except for the bald part) and canÃ¢ÂÂt imagine how it must be amplified for her. So I called and asked her if sheÃ¢ÂÂd like to spend Easter in Madison with us. The tone in her voice instantly assured me I couldnÃ¢ÂÂt have offered anything more wonderfulÃ¢ÂÂ¦ or needed.

Last night I got a phone call from my mom, who was giggling suspiciously. She told me I didnÃ¢ÂÂt know it yet, but I would be hosting more than just my cousin for the weekend. My cousin had called her mom (my favorite aunt) and gushed about how excited she was, and suggested that her mom, her momÃ¢ÂÂs boyfriend (Yay! SheÃ¢ÂÂs going on with her life!), and my mom and dad all come to Madison and we all spend the holiday weekend together. My mom explained that the boyfriend was only a maybe, but the rest of them were definitely coming for the long weekend. We both laughed as she admitted it is a little presumptuous to discuss plans to stay with someone a weekend when you havenÃ¢ÂÂt been invited or even run it past themÃ¢ÂÂ¦ but it was me they were talking about and they were all sure it wouldnÃ¢ÂÂt be a problem. They were right. I love having them visit, and thereÃ¢ÂÂs no more work in having five people stay with you than having oneÃ¢ÂÂ¦ I told them they should go ahead and invite my brother and other cousin too if they wanted. What the heck. WeÃ¢ÂÂve got beds for seven so long as six donÃ¢ÂÂt mind doubling up. If we end up with more than that, weÃ¢ÂÂll just borrow an inflatable from someone.

So all day IÃ¢ÂÂve been tickled pink. IÃ¢ÂÂm so grateful that a) I have family; b) my family is such that I rejoice when nearly anyone plans a visit; and c) theyÃ¢ÂÂre planning a visit. I would giggle at the giddy presumptuousness of my young cousinÃ¢ÂÂ¦ but I confess: I thoroughly understand what it is to miss oneÃ¢ÂÂs mother. I think IÃ¢ÂÂll make lambÃ¢ÂÂ¦

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Comments (11)

krista_marie
19 years ago
I am smiling with you. You are very fortunate to have family you enjoy so much. Thank you for sharing your joy with us.
andie_rathbone
19 years ago
It's great that you can be glad for uninvited family & not be puling your hair out wondering where you'll put them all. Enjoy & have a great Easter!
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Janis_G
19 years ago
Have a great time with your family, Michelle.
It's good to have a house as large as your's so
there is plenty of room.

Have one or two of those killer pink drinks for me.
You know, the ones you make.
rob333 (zone 7b)
19 years ago
So how are the plans coming along?
jazmynsmom
Original Author
19 years ago
Dang! What the heck happened to my apostrophes and ellipses in my post? Annoying!

It looks as though I'm getting my parents, two of my cousins and my aunt. I called the cousin who invited everyone to give her a hard time and she sheepishly asked me if I was mad. I assured her I was the opposite of mad, but reserved the right to tease her about this forever.

Plans (what few I'm making) are coming along nicely. When it was just my one cousin, I was going to make our "traditional" Easter fare: rabbit, baby carrots, and roast potatoes made to look like Easter eggs. But that's a dinner for only a few people. So I thought about lamb, but my dad caught wind of that and every time he's been in the background when I'm talking to my mom or one of my siblings on the phone, he bellers (goodnaturedly but seriously) "Tell Shelly if she cooks lamb, I'm not coming!"

This is pointless, as I discussed it with him some time ago and agreed to let him cook a ham with his favorite glaze on our grill's rotisserie.

My mom, in martyr mode, asked if I could have some peanut butter or cottage cheese on hand for when they arrived Friday night. (She's the only Catholic in the bunch... as though I'm going to cook meet and callously hand her a jar of PB and tell her to knock herself out!) I laughed and told her not to be silly, that I'd cook fish. She informed me my dad won't eat it. I told her I'd make it anyway. I plan to have a couple steaks on hand and my dad complains about anything he can go out back and grill his own dang dinner. Sheesh! When did he get so picky?

Every day I'm checking on the progress of my bulbs and my hope is that they'll be blooming for my aunt when she comes. She's a serious gardener and since we're a couple zones higher, I look forward to previewing Spring for her.

I'm not sure what we'll be doing the whole weekend, but one thing is certain: All the neighbors on our street will be able to hear us laugh from the moment they arrive until the lot of them leaves. :o)
andie_rathbone
19 years ago
You're doing a great job trying to please everyone & I know that's not easy. Hope you have a great time with the visit.
sara_the_brit_z6_ct
19 years ago
You're going to make it a really special time for your young cousin, who sounds like she really needs to feel a part of her extended, loving family right now. You and Steve are Good People.
weebus
19 years ago
Sounds Great!

I noticed this sentence and read it twice. Where does your Aunt live, Antartica?

She's a serious gardener and since we're a couple zones higher, I look forward to previewing Spring for her.
jazmynsmom
Original Author
19 years ago
Antarctica indeed! She's in Zone 3 ND and we're in Zone 5 WI. Our spring springs a few/couple weeks before theirs.
wandaredhead
19 years ago
Jaz,

How wonderful!!
I would consider it a compliment that they feel so comfortable and loved that they would invite themselves and others to your home.
I think it says volumes about you.

It's a lot of fun making the preparations, isn't it?!
rob333 (zone 7b)
19 years ago
Wwwweeeeellll???