Family reunions – and in our case this means a gathering of 40 to 50 simpering infants, taciturn toddlers, self-conscious teenagers, harassed moms and glamorous (ahem, ahem) grand moms and their recalcitrant menfolk – can be a blast or a bloodbath or simply Dullsville.
It is a matter of choice and (political) will. All it takes after that is a modicum of creativity.
Two Christmases ago, I decided I’ve had it with the lackluster way we reunite.
I thought there must be something terribly wrong if I had to drag my still not too ponderous body to attend it and to threaten my children with fire and brimstone if they didn’t attend it with me.
“But mommy, all we do there is eat.” That from the bratty bonch.
Not exactly true. Because after partaking of the potluck buffet, the men drink while their women make chika while inwardly worrying how their menfolk can DUI them home without mishap.
Youngsters huddle into small groups to do their own thing: mess around with the videoke mike, play cards or gameboy, or just stare at each other morosely.
One or two would be so lucky to find an air-conditioned bedroom and blissfully sleep the rest of the night away.
And I, the most senior and most venerable living member of the clan, wander about the host house, trusting my inner radar to lead me to where the computer is and from there get lost in cyberspace.
to be continued
Translations for the non-Pinoy reader: bonch (my way of referring to "bunso" or youngest child); chika (small talk).
While I am at it, DUI means, of course, driving under the influence (of alcohol).
21 comments:
Hahaha... most senior and venerable? That's a funny description. Para ka namang ninuno non. :) Joke lang Annamanila! Waiting for the continuation (and hopefully get some tips for our own parties). :)
Toe!
Hahaha. eh ano pa nga ba. Ninuno. Ancestor. Pero not yet infirm. Glam gramma, di ba? :)
Teka lang, didn't I use "venerable" sometime ago to describe a very good friend of mine :)
Nga pala, pinalitan ko pala to "esteemed"...fits di ba :)
Cookie!
You have a friend who is venerable too? So you like venerable ha. Ty ty. :)
hi anna! haha, why not teach them to go online and read blogs--i mean the senior folks. as for the kids, i'm sure they'd be awed at how groovy their venerable lola/tita is for being so tech-savvy. all this while munching on grub, of course. :)
ay bitin! yes--these family reunions are sometimes cause of misunderstanding between the parents who want to show up complete in number (kasama pa ang maid at pet) and the kids who feel that they have better things to do. bitin din comment ko, ha?
alam mo, my mom threatens us when we refuse to attend our summer reunions naman. christmas reunions - i can tolerate bec it's usually held nearby. summer is tough for me bec it usually means we have to travel for hours and go overnight on some god-forsaken resort with a bunch of cousins and second-cousins and nephews and nieces na hindi ko na kilala :). she tells me na hindi ko na sila kilala bec we havent been joining them for the past how many years already. e ayoko na talaga....
anyway, im looking forward to how this story will end. will see if it looks similar to our familia-novela as well :)
Nakakabitin naman! hehehe. Can't wait for next part to come.
Hahahah... Kaaliw naman itong post mo, tita. Will wait for the next part :)
Happy weekend po!
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ahh reunions, we have plenty of those, especially on my dad's side where we gather everytime an uncle, aunt or grandparent has a bday, or someone dies. but I've never sneaked off the go online when it got boring, he he. you just gave me an idea, I must try that next time.
hahaha, i seem to have a magnet to computers too, when i am over at a friend's house.
These are great times. Doesn't matter that we all end up in the kitchen eating and talking, its all the joy of togetherness...i like that. Lest you be the hostess and deal with the mess later, it still is a good time, isnt it?
Family get-togethers are always always happy times. All the catching up, the laughter, the food, I live for them.
We used to have Christmas / New year Reunion parties on my father's side of the family, and it pains me to think that a few of my closest relatives won't be around to party with us ( when and if we do again). But I believe in life after death, so it even if they aren't physically present, I know in spirit ,they are. And definitely, they are remembered with fondness and affection.
very amusing... and how true ! Reunions mean more than having dinner, with folks of different generations huddling as a group. I guess it will have more meaning mean should people travel from far away to come. I know some families actually have programs to make it more lively and entertaining :)
Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading it. You really have a way with words.
I remember how I looked forward to reunions when I was a young girl. I enjoyed seeing my cousins and playing with them. It's been a while since I attended a family reunion.
Looking forward to the rest of the story.
i miss this kind of bloodbath. the filipino (potluck) reunion is definitely something to behold
how does this end?
when a story is "to be continued"
one can only start making conclusions
of their own.
did annamanila, the most venerable member of the clan get caught online with her internet lover: S.C.R.A.B.B.L.E.?
abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
you described it so well, it's like our reunions haha.
Sige, tell us all about it. I might be able to apply your reforms in our next reunion.
Your reunion is attended by young people. Nobody beyond 45 years old, huh?
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