In the DU Home and Family Topic section

[Marthe48]

there should be a subtopic for Annoying Familiy Situations.

There is a family member who lives 2000 miles away, haven't seen him in years, never met his daughter. He told us he was coming to visit. He told us when he was coming, but had to change the date. Then he changed it again. He is finally on the way. He said he'd be here by today. The original visit was going to be about 2 weeks, now down to a few days. I don't want to use the word plan in any of this. He is driving about 1/2 way here in his own car. He obviously misjudged things like distance, velocity, and time and by yesterday, was not even close to midway. My daughter got plane tickets from the airport they are nearest to, and she is planning to pick them up in Cleveland sometime tonight, then drive an hour to his Mom's, sleep there and then leave for work here. A 2 or 3 hour drive.

There is just so much more to this story that it could be a book. I can totally understand why people can go down a path that makes no sense, with no clear destination or goal. But unlike magats, I realized I am surrounded by insanity, and got off the crazy bus Tuesday. Looks like the rest of the relatives involved are staying on the bus. I'll be eating popcorn.

[Duncanpup]

1. Can I come over to observe

[Marthe48]

2. Will you get on the bus?

Or sit with me on the sidelines? Be sure to bring your pups!

[Duncanpup]

3. Pups and I just wanna hang with you on the sidelines

[Marthe48]

4. Good choice

I can eat popcorn and pet the dogs And listen to your disbelieving comments. lol

[Diamond_Dog]

5. Years ago I had a cousin like that

This was in the days before cell phones. He’d tell you he’d be over for your holiday meal and then show up 6 hours later. Unapologetic , of course. He lived in western Ohio …. Tiffin …and his calculations for driving here were always way off. You’d think after 20 or so years he’d get it right.

[Marthe48]

6. That whole side does that

I can't count the times we planned dinner and they were late or no shows. Or showed up drunk and pugnacious. No shows this time, on Tuesday. Planned ham dinner for 10-12 people, ended up with 8 people and 4 of them were vegetarians.

At least my ankles aren't swelling from eating ham every day!

[babylonsister]

7. Relatives are like fish...after 3 days they stink.

So I hear.

Might be a good thing he shortened his trip, and it sounds so presumptuous of him, the whole thing. Hang in there.

[Marthe48]

8. Thank you

He's a very kind person, and a terrific teacher to special needs teens. But he is personally clueless, something that runs in our family. Thaks for the heartening words.

[Ptah]

10. Sorry, not sorry to see you go.

[Marthe48]

11. Update

Everyone is where they are supposed to be. So glad the weather is so much better and the roads are clear!

[Marthe48]

12. Last update

My relatives just left, heading back to his Mom's and catch up with friends. I think this is the last of my holiday visitors, and I am looking forward to a solitary New Year's Eve, with alcohol, and sleep!

I gave my relative money to help on car rental. I gave him information for rentals in his Mom's town. While I was looking at the map, I saw there were several rentals in town, including a UHaul. It flashed in my mind that he'd show up in a UHaul, just because with him, nothing is out of the realm of possibility. When he went to rent a car, he couldn't, because he doesn't "do credit cards" so they wouldn't rent a car to him. But, he was able to rent a UHaul, and so has wheels.

Happy New Year!