Two posts in one day! (actually, more to come). Overdue stuff about my holidays.
Yes, you’ll have to endure more posts devoid of debauchery. I can already hear the clicks of many of you hitting your back button to return to whatever you were doing before coming here.
Come on, it can’t always be about kinky stuff!
I am not just some sex slave, sex machine, sex, sex, sex and more sex type of person. Okay, let’s be honest. I mean, yeah, I am sort of that type of person, but, . . . not completely! lol.
If I had kept with my posts, this would have been three separate posts…one about Thanksgiving, one about Christmas, and one about New Year’s. You know what? I am still going to make it three posts. Tell ‘ya what… I’ll make sure my post AFTER these three is something more kink related!
THANKSGIVING
My dad’s funeral was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. A lot of extended family decided to stay through Thanksgiving, which was really great. The hustle and bustle of so many people helped bring love and joy to a somber time. Death is a tricky thing for families to deal with as each person deals with it differently. My mom could have preferred to be left alone more, but she welcomed the commotion of so many guests. She is in her element when she gets to play host. My sisters and I helped out a lot, of course.
Thanksgiving was exclusively focused on my side of the family this year. Mike’s parents passed away last year, his dad at the start of 2017, and his mom, in November of last year (almost exactly one year before my dad). Mike does have siblings nearby, but this year we didn’t see any of them or their kids as part of an official “Thanksgiving” festivity.
My sister hosted Thanksgiving day at her place, to make it easier on mom and because she has plenty of space.
“Hi, I am Kayla, I am, uh, uh, well…”
Quick note: Kayla turned 24 in November. Happy Birthday to her!! Also, you may recall she moved in right after Christmas two years ago! So happy birthday and happy anniversary of sorts. Wow. Two years!
While many in attendance knew of our relationship with Kayla, there were some who did not, especially the more extended family and the friends of the family who attended the funeral. Not that we would make a big deal about it, we still needed to address how Kayla would respond if asked about her relationship with the deceased. It is really no different from what may be asked of T2’s girlfriend. Of course, T2’s girlfriend can simply say, “I am T2’s, the grandson’s, girlfriend.” So what should Kayla say?
Given our love for sarcasm and tomfoolery, we were tempted to have her just say she was my wife, thus, she was my dad’s daughter-in-law. That would surely leave them puzzled, but wouldn’t be technically accurate. We considered a shock-and-awe approach might be funny. She could say, “Oh, I am Mike and Jen’s lover.” That would be accurate, but perhaps TMI?
We decided the best response is the same as T2’s girlfriend. “I am Mike and Jen’s girlfriend. Jen is the daughter of the deceased.” Kayla decided that if asked what that meant, her response would be, “I am their girlfriend. I live with them, and we all love each other.” Mike and I felt that was a great response.
Sure, she could have just gone with, “I am Jen’s girlfriend,” knowing that most would assume it to mean “girl who is a friend.” But we felt including Mike was not only more accurate but appropriate. We do not feel like we have to hide anything.
Kayla did find herself explaining who she was. Some asked nothing more of her, but most actually played it honestly and nicely, no different than they would have for T2’s girlfriend. Some did acknowledge the strangeness with something like, “Well, that’s different.” But most proceeded with a matter-of-fact conversation that anyone may have with someone’s significant other. They would ask her how long we’ve been dating or questions about herself, her schooling, stuff like that.
I believe the setting helped with creating a more courteous tone and mindset among the guests. I also think that, with the exception of some of dad’s “Bubba” friends, (we are in Texas after all), most either don’t care about what other’s do, or they simply find it within themselves to be civil despite any personal feelings to the contrary.
While we have been very open to everyone about our relationship with Kayla, it still feels nice when a social situation arises that requires affirmation of our relationship. I know it makes Kayla feel more accepted and more a part of us, knowing that she indeed is part of us and that “we” refers to “three.”
Domestic Discipline, Jenny style! 