Thanks.
Speaking of, I don't think I've shared the ridiculousness of my aunt, my dad's sister.
When my cousin was up a couple of weeks ago, we briefly discussed trying to get to my parents' house at the same time this summer. She and her parents always came to my folks' once in the summer and over Christmas when she was growing up, mostly because my grandparents lived right across the street from us. Anyway, she loves being there, too, but it was a passing thought.
She must have said something to her mom, who lives in TX. (It's her dad that is my dad's brother...) Her mom e-mailed me a bit later, saying she wished we could all meet up in IL, but that my uncle, who is a professor at Texas A & M, would have to be back in school when I'd be there after BIL's wedding.
OK, no big deal.
Now in jumps my dad's sister - wanting us to ALL get together that week after my BIL's wedding at my parents'. And she sent a mass e-mail including HER son and his 3 kids, more or less inviting them to come, too, wondering if I could change my dates, wondering if she could fly into Chicago and have me drive her the 3 hours back and forth to my parents' house... And she said IN THE MESSAGE that she knew it was a treatment week for Dad.
She did not send the message to my mom. She's more or less invited 11 people to my parents' house without checking with my mom and dad.
I wrote right back, saying that I couldn't change when I was there, due to the wedding. I reminded her that her other brother had already said he couldn't come then. I told her (she honestly might not have known this) that my parents are invited to my BIL's wedding and so they would not even be home that weekend, as they'll be in Chicago with us. I said I could bring her to my parents' from Chicago, but couldn't take her back, because it's out of my way when I drive home from their house - I need to angle across OH rather than drive 3 hours straight north to Chicago and then come back east...
And then I quite firmly said that I thought it was a horrible idea for all of us to be there when my dad has a treatment. I am feeling bad about bringing energetic and demanding kids myself - they don't need more people in the house. Even if he's not getting ill, he's getting tired, and there's not room for everyone, anyway. If I could go any other time, I would, etc., etc.
So, anyway, I told my mom I'd tried to head her off. Mom and Dad were both VERY grateful. Then yesterday my aunt sent another e-mail (this time to Mom and Dad, too - but the rest of us as well) saying, "Well, it might not work out for ALL of us, but I'll still see what I can do."
My mom said to me last night, "At least you tried." She sounded very weary and resigned. Dad himself said, "I'd love to see everyone, but not all at once, and not then."
I have more work to do.
And I may or may not have called my aunt a few nasty names out loud to D when I read her message yesterday...
Sorry, just needed to vent that out. The thing is, she's not a purposely bad person, she's just always so sure everyone can't wait to see her. But, she's the one - I know I've talked about her before - who tells D what it's like to travel, tells me what lazy people office workers are (when I was at the time working in an office), she shows up at my mom's and throws parties for her old friends, saying she'll do all the work, but, well... And yes, she's 69 years old and acting this way.
Gah.
Thank you for sharing with us!
- have fun camping. 
.
) - grumbling husbands are no fun
