When His Family Drinks.......and you don't.
You have made a beautiful Holiday dinner and added all the final touches. The problem is his family is making the number one priority the beer. You want to be seen together; to give the impression you are the perfect woman for their brother and son. But to be honest no one is complimenting your hard work on the meal, nor is anyone in the family going out of their way to bond with you. In fact, you wonder if they would even notice if you just threw hot dogs and a bag of potato chips out in the living room.
You like a little wine and occasional beer too. But getting out of control in the name of a Holiday isn't your scene. Joe in the corner has forgotten to zip up his fly from the last bathroom run, and Mary is starting to yell at her husband, who is ignoring her and watching the TV. Your Oprah magazine did not prepare you for this. Though they are the ones out of control, they feel sorry for you. They are amber effervescent bubbles of joy. You are a hunk of warm dry bread.
COOKING A GREAT HOLIDAY DINNER WHEN NO ONE CARES.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of this Holiday drunk fest is that you have been screaming bloody murder "LETS EAT! FOODS ON!" for the third time. Finally you just grab a plate and start scooping the food into it. You sit in an abandoned chair where the family is and start eating alone. Someone says, "OH! IS THE FOOD ON?" Its the oddest thing. You get the eerie impression they have been doing this forever.
IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE, LET THEM FLY THE DRUNK FEST ON THEIR OWN.
If you and your special someone are extreme opposites, here are some suggestions. You can still be compatible, but it makes no sense to join in a drunk fest for you, or a quilting bee and ballet for him, if you hate them. If it drives you crazy don't worry about how it looks. I know! Some will say "How can you NOT be together on Holidays? Are you breaking up?" Honey, I’m here to tell you doing things on your own sometimes keeps you together. It just makes better sense when you give your blessings, a big kiss and a hug at the door and say, "Have a wonderful time."
THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT YOU CAN GIVE IS TRUST.
Trust must be earned. The worst things you can do is hang on to someone and whine with jealousy or sadness. "If you love someone set them free." Right? Trust, if it has been earned, is a beautiful liberating thing. You know how miserable you would be in an environment you can't stand. Go out with friends! Have fun! Do the things your friends love to do. Don’t ruin both your day by begging to go home early. If you absolutely can’t tolerate fall down drunks, and he wants to camp out all day with those that do, don’t you feel a bit bad drinking coffee or sipping wine with friends.
Have a beautiful weekend.