We Start and End with Family

Today was the Family Christmas Party. It was big.
I have a large, Italian family that knows how to EAT!


There's presents and a white-elephant grab bag where everyone brings a neglected/useless piece of functional crap that is wrapped in pretty bows and exchanged in a fit of laughter.
Thankfully, the traditional childrens' musical performance has recently been retired.

Besides the music and family hugs there is, of course, food. Lots of food.
Cheesy artichoke dip, buffalo cracker spread, pizza bread, Italian wedding soup, pasta pasta pasta -
and my personal favorite....Tripe (for those non-Italian heathens it's cow or sheep stomach in a tasty tasty hot broth)

It's not long after we arrive until everyone's belt buttons are bursting at the seams.

My family is from a small town on the east coast of the United States and, honestly, not much changes from year-to-year. The biggest changes are those in the lives of the younger cousins. Moving out, going to college and acquiring new boyfriends is the usual news. -- (I say boyfriends because my family is overwhelmingly female) --

Then there's always the one family member, the black sheep, usually an outlaw (read: in law not widely assimilated into the main body). They tend to put their nose into the business of those who would rather hear from anyone else, and bitch and moan until Christmas traditions are completely rearranged to their unacceptable fancy.

Although, while this material makes up most of the more interesting banter of the evening, it is soon forgotten in the loving goodbyes and sincere well wishes of those heading home.
Whether you're close to your family or not, they make up a part of you that can never be changed. You're born with your family, you bury your family, and they'll be there to bury you. While I now live farther away from my roots, I always return home for holidays and various momentous occasions.
Because I love my family and honestly believe that they are one of the best families I could ever have. In fact, I have never seen another family as great as mine. Not to knock anyone else's family of course, I'm sure they're great in their weird and quarky ways.

But as my Mom always says: "I love to visit, but I'm glad I live in OUR house with OUR problems and OUR own weird ways!"