Family Outing: Independence Day

First, a somewhat unrelated introduction: After a week of resumes, cover letters, office skills tests, and rejection e-mails, I celebrated Canada Day with "The Canadians" (They do have names, but why use names when you can identify them by their nationality?). That was a rockin' party, let me tell you! For the next three days we were quoting Canadian rap ... that's right. I can picture it now ... "So I know that you wanna be Canadian, please, even if in winter things tend to freeze. We've got the world monopoly on trees, and our country's surrounded by three different seas!"

... I love my friends, but that's a another post for another time.

This is the story of my Independence Day weekend with family - no, not my family ... rather, my sister-in-law's family (well, my brother and his family were there, but you get the picture). First, I must explain that they are all wonderful people and that no one in any way made me feel uncomfortable, but ... In order to understand the complete awkwardness of my experience, you must understand that I feel awkward at my own family reunions. Add to that the extended family of in-laws, and you get Debra hovering around her brother and standing on the outskirts of conversations for an entire weekend. Sounds fun, right? It was especially fun to play very competitive dodgeball for hours, because if there's one thing I'm good at, it's dodging flying objects. Oddly enough, the least awkward time of the weekend was the wedding reception on Monday night. I think it was because Mark wasn't as busy with other things, so we were able to talk a lot more, and he pulled me into more conversations, etc... Funny story: one of these conversations resulted in a date, but that, too, is another post for another time. Also, I've been supplanted as the cool Aunt, which makes me very sad. My niece and nephews would much rather play with their cousins or other aunts and uncles ... *sigh.* However, I realized in that extremely awkward setting that family is an amazing and very vital thing, and that my family is exceptional in every way. My brother and I may not agree on everything, but he's always watching out for me.
... and there you have it, a cheesey and sentimental ending to an awkward post about an awkward weekend.
Until next time, folks!