I have always found that the memories we remember best are the ones where things didn't go quite as planned. My family has been the poster child (or poster family?) for things not going quite right. My fondest memories have always been of holidays and my childhood. With my mom being the middle of six kids and me the oldest of so many cousins I've lost count, things are bound to not always go smoothly.
Take the year of the roll. Everyone had finally sat down to the table at my grandparents' house to eat dinner. My grandfather, who was sitting at the head of the table asked for someone to pass him a roll, which were at the other end. He got more than he bargained for. Everyone, being the somewhat kind people I know they are, picked up their roll and threw it at him. No, this was not planned! My grandfather had about a dozen rolls launched at him from every direction. We laughed so hard, I think someone might have had gravy come out their nose.
I remember the first year my youngest aunt was newly married. Her husband kept taking candy canes off the Christmas tree, after my grandmother had warned him that they were for the kids and he was not to touch them. He learned his lesson the hard way. The last time he grabbed one it was in sight of my grandmother from the kitchen. He was hit square with a glass candleholder that was thrown with the precision of a ninja star. He never touched another candy cane on the tree.
Two years ago I hosted my first Thansksgiving. I invited all of mine and hubby's families, and a great portion of them showed up. It was cold, so we were all stuffed inside my house, but it was cozy. That is, until my mom decided to check on the turkey. Earlier that day she had been complaining that I wouldn't let anyone use my tea towels for stuff other than drying their hands. (Do you know how expensive these things are? And once you get grease on them, they don't come clean.) Well, she opened the oven door, checked the turkey, and closed it back up. We were sitting in the kitchen chatting when my aunt noticed the oven was on fire. We opened the door to find one of my tea towels that had been hanging on the oven door had flipped itself into the oven when my mom closed the door. To this day she is not allowed anywhere near my tea towels.
What crazy things has your family done?
Love the detail about grandma launching the candle-holder.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teen, we once hosted an entire side of the family for Thanksgiving. All 40 came from out of state in a caravan of cars (we were the only family to move away). We emptied the living room of all furniture and all 20+ kids slept on the floor side to side, row by row.
Shortly after everyone arrived, the septic went kaput in a very bad way -- like something in a horror movie. So, no flushing allowed. Luckily the house across the street was for sale and empty, and we still had a spare key. No heat over there, though. I don't know what our neighbors thought.
Obviously, this was supposed to be a one-time deal, so the cousins could see where we lived, but the outhouse scenario clinched it. They never came back.
Straight Guy, I bet your neighbors were pretty curious as to what was going on! And 40 people? I don't think I could fit that many people in my house, let alone find someplace for them to sleep.
ReplyDeleteGood to know what my family is not the only one that occasionally tosses rolls.
ReplyDeleteA candleholder? Your grandma means business.
Those are some funny stories...love family memories we create through the years!
ReplyDeleteThose were great! Love the ninja granny!
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