Explosivo
01-06-2005, 01:45 PM
You may have noticed that I was gone for a little while over the Holidays. Well, I was out of town meeting a my Fiance's family for the first time in Kansas City.
First things first - I dont like to fly. I got on the plane at about 8:00 in the morning and as soon as we got to cruising altitude I order a screwdriver so I could relax and stop freaking out. This mellowed me out a bit so I could relax on the flight and made me feel better about the inevitable "Meeting of the Parents". We then had a layover in Dallas for two hours in which I spent the whole time at Fridays drinikng beer, getting ready for my next flight. I knew going into this that my girlfriends parents were religious and didnt drink, but I didnt care, I was flying and I had to think about myself.
We landed in KC around 5:00PM thier time to be greeted by the gf's sister, her husband who's a minister, and her 3 kids ranging in age from 4 to 6 months. We all made the 45min drive to where we were staying in a van. Just to let you guys know, I dont have any experience with young kids. No one in my immediate family has one and I have no idea how to talk to them or relate to them.
After 45 mins in a van with 2 people I dont know and 3 young kids, we arrive at her mom's house. When we arrive we are greeted by her stepdad and within 30 mins about 20 more people who I have never met. We had:
Sister with husband and 3 kids, another sister with husband (another minister) and 2 kids, another sister with husband and 2 kids, 2 brother's, both with wife and 2 kids, then finally her mom. Everyone was really nice, but its a little overwhelming just getting off a plane and being trown into a new family head first like that, and of course, being the new guy, Im the center of attention to everyone there. It was like a job interview. There was no way for me even to relax after getting off the plane where I was afraid for my life for the last 4 hours.
After visting and having snacks for a couple of hours, everyone in the kitchen begins to start grabbing hands! I had no idea what was going on at first since Im not religious, but the family was attempting some "Circle of Prayer". I played along a grabbed a hand. While my gf's mom said grace which consisted of the family being blessed that I could join them I stared at the time on the floor, doing my best not to bust up laughing. I wasn't going to laugh because it was funny, I am just always afraid that when I am in really serious situations like that I may just bust out laughing. After the nice prayer, we had dinner, which was nice.
Little did I know the family was waiting for us to get there before they celibrated Christmas at their house. We arrived on the 27th. I dont know what you guys do at your house as far as customs of opening presents, but at this place, each present was like an event. Only 1 person could open a present at a time and everyone had there cameras out wating to catch the persons excited reaction to the present. Im my house, we all just grab presents and open them. I personally never found that method to be a problem. So I have to sit in the family circle and watch other peoples kids open presents and everyone talk about eachothers kids and how funny it is when they say a certain word or how cute it is when they do this certain something, basically a whole bunch of bull**** I dont care about and couldnt relate to. Then, it was my turn to open a present. I tried to do it while no one was paying attention so I dint have to get my picture taken but I didnt get away with it. I had to put on the extrememly happy face for my Borders gift card and give the future mother in law a hug in front of everyone. By this time what I really want to do it go to bed, and I finally got to about two hours later after everyone left.
The next evening we decided to hit the town and check out George Brett's sports bar in the plaza section of KC. I was pretty stoked because I always saw Brett on SportsCenter growing up as a kid and I knew his place would have to be cool.
We go there with Mom, Dad, 2 of the sisters, their minister husbands and 4 little kids. The people there were nice enough to give us a private back room. Thinking about it now, they probably gave it to us so the kids wouldnt bother the other customers.
Ao were at a kick ass sports bar, plasma screen in the wall in our private room and Im diggin this place, that is until the waitress comes around and asks everyone what they want to drink. One by one the orders come out, "Ice tea", "Coke", "Water", "Ice Tea".... Not one ****ing person ordered a beer!!!! You know what that means? Thats right, I cant either or else I would be the bad person. So after more talk about nothing but babies we finally get our food. Before eating I hear the stepdad ask the other table if the have "Said their prayer yet?" They say yes, they have. Then I notice out of the corner of my eye that they were once again grabbing hands to do their "Circle of Prayer" routine. I pretended like I didnt hear them and just started eating. I could take this **** anymore. Me and these people mixed like oil and water.
More to come later if anyone cares.
First things first - I dont like to fly. I got on the plane at about 8:00 in the morning and as soon as we got to cruising altitude I order a screwdriver so I could relax and stop freaking out. This mellowed me out a bit so I could relax on the flight and made me feel better about the inevitable "Meeting of the Parents". We then had a layover in Dallas for two hours in which I spent the whole time at Fridays drinikng beer, getting ready for my next flight. I knew going into this that my girlfriends parents were religious and didnt drink, but I didnt care, I was flying and I had to think about myself.
We landed in KC around 5:00PM thier time to be greeted by the gf's sister, her husband who's a minister, and her 3 kids ranging in age from 4 to 6 months. We all made the 45min drive to where we were staying in a van. Just to let you guys know, I dont have any experience with young kids. No one in my immediate family has one and I have no idea how to talk to them or relate to them.
After 45 mins in a van with 2 people I dont know and 3 young kids, we arrive at her mom's house. When we arrive we are greeted by her stepdad and within 30 mins about 20 more people who I have never met. We had:
Sister with husband and 3 kids, another sister with husband (another minister) and 2 kids, another sister with husband and 2 kids, 2 brother's, both with wife and 2 kids, then finally her mom. Everyone was really nice, but its a little overwhelming just getting off a plane and being trown into a new family head first like that, and of course, being the new guy, Im the center of attention to everyone there. It was like a job interview. There was no way for me even to relax after getting off the plane where I was afraid for my life for the last 4 hours.
After visting and having snacks for a couple of hours, everyone in the kitchen begins to start grabbing hands! I had no idea what was going on at first since Im not religious, but the family was attempting some "Circle of Prayer". I played along a grabbed a hand. While my gf's mom said grace which consisted of the family being blessed that I could join them I stared at the time on the floor, doing my best not to bust up laughing. I wasn't going to laugh because it was funny, I am just always afraid that when I am in really serious situations like that I may just bust out laughing. After the nice prayer, we had dinner, which was nice.
Little did I know the family was waiting for us to get there before they celibrated Christmas at their house. We arrived on the 27th. I dont know what you guys do at your house as far as customs of opening presents, but at this place, each present was like an event. Only 1 person could open a present at a time and everyone had there cameras out wating to catch the persons excited reaction to the present. Im my house, we all just grab presents and open them. I personally never found that method to be a problem. So I have to sit in the family circle and watch other peoples kids open presents and everyone talk about eachothers kids and how funny it is when they say a certain word or how cute it is when they do this certain something, basically a whole bunch of bull**** I dont care about and couldnt relate to. Then, it was my turn to open a present. I tried to do it while no one was paying attention so I dint have to get my picture taken but I didnt get away with it. I had to put on the extrememly happy face for my Borders gift card and give the future mother in law a hug in front of everyone. By this time what I really want to do it go to bed, and I finally got to about two hours later after everyone left.
The next evening we decided to hit the town and check out George Brett's sports bar in the plaza section of KC. I was pretty stoked because I always saw Brett on SportsCenter growing up as a kid and I knew his place would have to be cool.
We go there with Mom, Dad, 2 of the sisters, their minister husbands and 4 little kids. The people there were nice enough to give us a private back room. Thinking about it now, they probably gave it to us so the kids wouldnt bother the other customers.
Ao were at a kick ass sports bar, plasma screen in the wall in our private room and Im diggin this place, that is until the waitress comes around and asks everyone what they want to drink. One by one the orders come out, "Ice tea", "Coke", "Water", "Ice Tea".... Not one ****ing person ordered a beer!!!! You know what that means? Thats right, I cant either or else I would be the bad person. So after more talk about nothing but babies we finally get our food. Before eating I hear the stepdad ask the other table if the have "Said their prayer yet?" They say yes, they have. Then I notice out of the corner of my eye that they were once again grabbing hands to do their "Circle of Prayer" routine. I pretended like I didnt hear them and just started eating. I could take this **** anymore. Me and these people mixed like oil and water.
More to come later if anyone cares.