Family

Today was the surprise party for my maternal grandmother's 80th birthday. Her actual birthday is the 11th, but the aunts and uncles who still live in the midwest (mind you there are 9 children in that family--I believe all but my uncle from Washington were there) decided to surprise grandma at church this morning and many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were waiting at the local community hall.

When I first get at the hall early this morning (Thank GOD I came from J's place, because it was only like 35 minutes, instead of 1.5 hours) I meet my 22-year-old brother, who has my mom's mother's day gift. We chat and make it inside where we are immediately put to work, per usual putting cloths on tables, putting up decorations and getting the food arranged. When our family has a party, it's a party, and EVERYONE helps in one way or another.

While I'm helping my cousins Sarah and Leaha, my cousin Shelly comes up to me and asks, "So, who are you?" After a pregnant pause she continues, "Oh my God, Sunshine, you're so grown-up! You're so beautiful! The last time I saw you you looked like you were in highschool, not about to be a teacher." We share a huge hug.

I tell her thank you, because I haven't seen her for 4 or 5 years, and am just so dog-gone happy to see her! Seriously! Albeit we have a huge family, we do love one another, and we're fairly close. I see her daughters and I get to meet the pumpkin's for the first time! Such cuties! I think they're 4 and 2...maybe 3 and 2, I'm not sure, but they're precious!

Anyway...the party went off without a hitch! Grandma was surprised and per usual, we roasted her. It's amazing what you learn at this little shindigs. My grandmother is a very liberal person (now you know wehre I get it from) and we found out what she really did in high school. Let's just say that she makes me look like an angel--and my brothers consider me the rebel child.

After the roasting, I was talking to my cousin Sarah about breakups we've gone through. Ah...not so great memories, but those memories now make us laugh!