A bunch o' Turkeys

Cast of Characters:

Mom - slightly neurotic, slightly controlling, tired from cooking all day yesterday but calm since theres not much left to do today. Comfortable in black capri's and a supersoft fluffy zip front cardigan in pale yellow to set off her newly colored hair (now a nice auburn instead of dull brown with gray) . Not too grouchy but you better move quickly when asked.

Dad - calm, good natured, entertaining - turning on football, chatting up scores and players. Comfortable in cranberry colored mock turtleneck and soft brown jeans. Happy and ready to be helpful.

Chick - slightly neurotic, trying to help but yet avoid slightly controlling mom. Ready for a break from all the helping she's been doing. Cute in snug blue jeans and a white v-neck button down with 3/4 sleeves, sets off her newly colored hair (now a deep cherry color instead of golden brown).

Buddy/Bear - running around getting into everything and bugging everyone and looking cute and fighting with each other and causing moms blood pressure to rise and dads smile to go upside down and Chicks face to squinch up. Looking cute in various article of clothing unearthed from the back of the closet for "special" days.

G'pa CA - slight build, but stocky with one heck of a beer gut. White hair pompadored back from his high forehead. Dark pants and a striped Polo shirt. Big showy gold watch on wrist, carpenters pencil poking out from his shirt pocket tucked in next to his 'smokes. Little old lady bifocals from the grocery store perched on the end of wide, red, alcoholics nose. Gruff voice, random foul language, beer in hand 24/7, but gentle with miss Bear - always gentle with her. Always on his cell phone with 'buddies'.

Uncle R - slight, slim, looks unhealthy, messy salt and pepper hair, bloodshot eyes. New white carpenter pants still creased with fold marks, red v-neck tee shirt molded over incredible biceps and pecs. Wears holey stained white athletic socks and trashed out sneakers. Black, girly styled, suede/leather jacket... cold in our 40 weather, can't get warm. Joking always, never serious, spends most of his time playing with the dog and running outside for a smoke. Makes funny faces and noises and is a playmate for all the kids, just a kid at heart. Sleeps a lot.

G'pa WA - tall, husky, droopy dog face with big brown eyes behind old fashioned big framed glasses. Soft brown/gray hair - never without a nice pen in his shirt pocket also tucked in next to his smokes. Quiet, talks of football and economy and the decline of society and the rising cost of living. Also loves miss Bear... thinks she's a 'kick'...

G'ma WA - in yet another pair of track pants with cute matching sweatshirt: this one blue with birds and a nest on the front. Running shoes that match. Smells of IceyHot rub and cigarettes, always with a bottle of pills in one hand and a mug of water in the other. Laughs loud, jumps right in to help with anything that looks like it needs doing. Rough, trailer-park like but in a nice way... calls 'em like she see's 'em.

Germy - 16, ADHD maxed out on meds with a nonstop commentary on everything he see's and hears and thinks and notices he inserts himself and his experiences into every conversation regardless loves to play with Buddy and Bear makes him laugh and he secretly crushes on Chick who is actually his neice in a weird and twisted way and he wears you out after 10 minutes but he has a HUGE heart and a positive spirit. Lack of punctuation there was deliberate... just the way Germy is!

Setting: our house, our neighborhood. Adults in TV room watching football or in adjoined kitchen cooking. Kids in front room playing boardgames and computer games. Charlie-dog padding around desperately seeking dropped food.

Time/event: Thanksgiving 2005, G'pa CA and uncle R arrived Tuesday, G'pa and G'ma WA arrived Thursday at 12 for a 2 pm dinner... perfect timing! At 3, the dishes were being washed and G'pa CA was getting a ride to the local bar from uncle R and G'pa and G'ma WA were dozing off in front of football while waiting for pie. By 3:30 pie was eaten and the WA people left and kids went to watch a movie. By 4:30 it is dark and time for mom to have some cognac.

How we survived: all adults behaved admirably. The two fathers behaved in a friendly fashion towards each other and spent time discussing the myriad of 'projects' that needed to be done around this place. The kids played nicely and we had no major food reactions from the contraband Chinese food they ate last night. Uncle R took G'pa CA to the bar and left him there so tensions eased even more after that.

Must. Go. Nap. The tryptophan and cognac are kicking in...zzzzzzzzzz