OCD+ADD=OMG

1) – People Are Somewhat Narrowminded. People here see things from their own viewpoint, and take no interest in learning anything else really. This makes explaining new concepts to them difficult, and even if you manage it, they usually forget whatever it was you told them.

2) – Unfriendly To Strangers. Up here, if you’re a stranger, you’re a stranger. That’s it. People rarely go out of their way to start up a conversation with strangers, tending to just ignore them. So one really has to work hard to be part of the fold.

3) + Very Friendly to Friends & Family. Once everyone knows you, you have friends for life. Everyone does everything in their power to keep each other comfortable and happy. We were staying at Aunt Wanda Sue’s, unchaperoned and we had mentioned going to the store to buy food. She told us she had a well stocked fridge, and that we should make use of it.

4) + My Family is Riot. I actually have more fun with my Aunts than my cousins. The younger generation is...just not my type of people. Also, they’re really young, so every time I come back they’re different. My Aunts are timeless. They’re always fun and caring, willing to pick and completely crazy.

5) * Everyone Has Satellite Dishes. That’s right. Everyone. The short explanation is that people out here are so out in the middle of no where and so far apart, the able companies wont come to them...*shrug*

6) * Back Roads are Long, Winding, and Numerous. There are literally miles upon miles upon miles of nothing but back roads and open space. These roads are long, damaged and usually have no speed limit. This results in excess speed, driving in the middle of the road, and whip-lash surprise sudden turns.

7) * Traffic is Nonexistent. This applies especially to the back roads. On back roads, if you see three vehicles in 45 minutes or on the same road, it’s considered heavy traffic. There was one stop light in St. Joe...but it was removed because it wasn’t needed...

Thanks for joining me for this list of lesions from the boondocks.

Yo, from Cooters Point. Today was probably one of the longest days I’ve had when I didn’t have to go to work. We all woke up at 5:30 a.m. (madness!), got dressed, loaded the car up, and headed for I Hop. We’d never had an I Hop breakfast, and though it was expensive, it was also very scrumptious.

We probably hit the road around 6:45 since it never takes long for us to eat or get full. I jumped in the back seat and put my headphones on. Listened to my new Destiny’s Child CD twice, and then listened to about eight others. We pulled over for a bathroom break and after that I alternated between sleeping (or trying to) and listening to my music with the occasional playful banter with the rents in between.

We got to Uncle Harvey’s house around 1:00 p.m. We stayed, we visited, we took off to borrow some DVDs, and I finally saw Identity. Gotta say, pretty good movie. ‘Bout half way through I’d figured it out, but it was still really cool. Very original. Anyway, Uncle Harvey wanted to head to the Shiloh camp ground on Lake Bruin, on account of how many of the relatives were gonna be gatherin’ there. Kinda a pre-reunion hang out, really.

Ok, first I have to say, having a family reunion out doors in the beginning of June...not too smart. There was a bit of a breeze blowing off of the lake, but it wasn’t steady or cool enough. So, Mom and I spent about 3 hours doing nothing but sweat. There’s a nice visual for ya. Honestly! I can understand no one having the money to get an indoor, air conditioned facility, but if it must be outdoors, don’t have it in summer!

But anyway...After doing very little but being ignored by people who didn’t know us, they served the food. Of course, I had forgotten to take my meds for my digestive system, so the only thing I could eat was a roll. The entire time Dad kept saying, ‘We’ll leave in a couple of minutes.’ to Mom At 6:47 I put my food town, He tried the ‘few minutes’ line and I was like, ‘We’re leaving. Now.’ He laughed, but we did leave.

We went to the closest ‘shopping center’, which consisted of a grocery story and a Dollar General. But he Dollar General closed at 7:00...wtf, mates? We did get what we needed at the grocery store though, and then came over to Aunt Wanda Sue’s house. Uncle J.E. and Aunt Wanda Sue are staying on the camp they own at Lake Bruin with some friends; so, they invited us to stay at their house. I love this house...Sure, it isn’t huge or extravagant, but it’s really just so cozy and nice. The reason it’s so nice is ‘cause their old house brunt to a cinder, and they’ve been able to rebuild it completely.

Her shower alone is amazing. That’s right, I’m gonna have a separate paragraph for the shower. For one thing, the ‘bench’ is actually comfortable. You know how they have benches in showers that are like half a foot long? Well this bench extends more than 2 feet, so your never worry about loosing your balance and slipping. It makes things much more comfortable too. Also, the bench is positioned far enough back from the shower head, so you don’t have to worry about getting sprayed while lathering up for body wash or shaving cream or whatever. There’s a shelf just by the bench, so you can line up your stuff, sit down, and grab as you need. And the shower has a long neck so you can sit and lather up, then reach up and grab it and spray yourself while you’re still sitting down. I could go one, but I’ll be nice and spare you...or something.

Ok after showering and eating and watching a food network countdown (and drooling all the while), I am pretty much ready for bed. And now, here I am. I was so unhappy at the reunion, Dad suggested I not go tomorrow. Which is fine with me really. Most of the people there I don’t know, and they don’t see me as family. We’re only related through the marriage of my Aunt...and she’s passed away now. I’ve never been that social -.-

Coming up here really has been bitter-sweet. In the past, we always came to ‘visit with Aunt Irene and Uncle Harvey’, and now part of that is gone. She was my grandmother’s sister, and when I chose to think about it, it renews the pain of losing my only grandparent. Everyone seems to be doing really well though. Uncle Harvey talks about Aunt Irene all the time, and there are pictures of them together on every wall along with the pictures of their many kids and grand kids (they had ten kids!). Though it’s very sad, it does inspire much hope; like a simple lesion that though life will never be the same, it does go on.

And, on that note, I’ll finish this. My meds are kicking in, and my arm is getting tired. Goodnight.