Something I kind of enjoy about myself, is my constant amazement at the Human Comedy. (Not the book or the inspired by movie authored by William Saroyan. I read that book years ago and was grievously disappointed. Although, to be fair to the book, I was 12 at the time, so maybe I didn’t really give it much of a chance.) The Human Comedy of which I speak is the daily circus that happens out around me.
This amazement, coupled with my love of words and general knowledge, tends to make me a bit giggly in the presence of weird phrasing. I rarely have time to sit back and just enjoy it. Considering that I spend most of my day with exhausted teachers and children under the age of 15, I have plenty of fodder for hilarity. (If you knew some of the environment surrounding me, okay, my fifth period, you would see why I don’t find much of my daily struggle funny.)
No, the best place for funny is large family function. (And BOY, do I have a large family.)
Yesterday we celebrated my Grandmother’s 85th birthday. This is my mother’s side of the family, and her mother’s side of the family.
Now, my father’s family is made up of slightly bonkers and mule stubborn people. My mother’s family consists of possibly certifiable and moderately dangerous professional grudge holders.
(So you see, my personality did not have much of a chance.)
A few of the things that transpired yesterday that I find noteworthy:
One of my first cousins has colored her hair in such a startling fashion that I didn’t recognize her.
One of my distant cousins was dressed just like Mrs. Wiggins from and old Carol Burnett and Tim Conway bit. Apparently no one noticed but me.
My cousin, who used to think he was Wonder Woman, no apparently thinks he’s Johnny Cash.
I almost lost control of a trolley of tortillas. I was able to stop it before it rained Mexican Food on my mother’s car.
There was plenty of cheese on the table. This is fortunate because at a previous party for this family, my aunt and uncle almost came to blows over cheese. Strangely enough, this aunt made a scarring remark to me when I was about 10 years old over a cheese incident.
My favorite moment was during the blessing, given by someone who I don’t think is either a member of my family or the clergy. I’m sure someone knows him, people just don’t wander in to family parties just to bless things, do they?
Anyway, he said we should all be grateful for the blessings that have been done to us.
I found the phrasing interesting, if not inspiring.
Some times that’s all it takes.
Writer Chick 