March 1, 2010

• Like A Kid In A Candy Store

  
  We arrived in Wisconsin on Friday night, January second, I think. I was kind of out-of-it; the trip out here did not go as smoothly as we had hoped. We had to bring the rental car to the airport in Madison (our car died and was junked back in New York) and we had to drop our stressed-out kitties off at Ken’s cousin’s house (pets are not allowed here in my FIL’s building). By the time we got back here (a little before midnight), all I wanted was a good cry, a hot bath, and some deep sleep.

  I skipped the good cry and the hot bath. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow that night.

  The next day, we were going to a birthday party for one of Ken’s aunts. We were supposed to be there at eleven thirty in the morning, but we were late (Ken’s dad let us sleep in a little). I was a little anxious; they called it a “small” family gathering, but there were more than a dozen cars parked out front.

  Deep breaths, Vanessa. It’s just family.

  Following Ken and my FIL up the walkway, I thought, What if they don’t like me? They don’t even know me. None of them were invited to the wedding… and you KNOW they’re gonna blame ME for that. What do I say? “Hey, my husband never even told me you people EXISTED”? God, what if…?

  Then we walked into the house full of people. As my husband took my coat, I looked in, past the foyer. I smiled. Oh, my.

  In the front room, it was wall-to-wall Grumpy Old Men… some with glasses on!

  Ken kissed my cheek. He whispered, “You gonna be okay, honey?”

  I kissed him back. “You never told me that your uncles are all Grumpy Old Men. I‘m gonna be juuuuuuuuuuust fiiiiiiiiiine!” My husband chuckled; he gets a kick out of my G.O.M. Collection.

  I had a lovely time at the party. Ken’s aunts are all funny and sweet. The cousins and their children were fun to hang out and play with. I got to meet my husband’s grandmother, and she was very, very nice.

  And Ken’s uncles? They’re all mine, now. I walked into the front room where they were all hanging out (where they set up the bar!) and stayed for hours.

  My “new” family rocks. Everyone has been so helpful, taking in the cats until we get our own digs, lending us a car until we can get one of our own, and giving us leads on jobs and education… and of course, there’s my FIL, letting us live here while we look for employment!

  The fact that I got a whole batch of new Grumpy Old Men out of this move to the Midwest? Bonus!

  • 7:13 pm
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