7:53 am March 11, 2009My
Last week the uncles came out for their annual ski trip. Last year we got to go up with them one day and they taught my kiddies how to ski (because while we live in Utah and are surrounded by mountains of powder 11 1/2 months out of the year, we rarely actually go skiing). This year, sadly, we didn’t get to go up. For one thing, the conditions were crap this year. It was windy and frigid, and the snow was crusty and hard. For another thing, I couldn’t figure out the logistics of taking Deac skiing… although the kids’ idea of tying a leash to his car seat and dragging him down the mountain wasn’t a bad one.
Every year, uncle Matt brings out shrimp and crab from the Chesapeake Bay, because while we are surrounded by mountains of powder here in Utah, we are short on local seafood. This year he did it again, although he told us the story about how the shrimp and crab cakes almost weren’t this year. Apparently there was some drama surrounding the obtaining, packaging, and hauling of said seafood. But in the end, it was all crammed into suitcases and brought 2,000 miles to a group of happy mouths.
When the uncles come, there is always an abundance of laughing and jokes… usually with jokes getting raunchier as the evening progresses. Zoe said to me last week before they came: “Mom, do you remember last year when you said that Jachin and I had to leave to the room because the uncles were going to swear now?” And while I didn’t remember that happening, I don’t doubt it. This year Grammy tried to nip the dirty jokes in the bud. First it started with Paul and his Chuck Norris jokes, which segued into Paul’s Helen Keller jokes. When off-color Michael Jackson jokes started circulating, Grammy went to her bedroom and pulled out her stash of “clean jokes” clipped from magazines. Then she came back into the kitchen, sat down, and started reading them… whether anyone was listening or not. My sister filmed some of the punchlines. I was half-unconscious from lack of oxygen from laughing. Not because the jokes were funny, but because Grammy and her mission to keep it clean was priceless.
It makes me sad that I only get to see these guys once a year. I do love them so. Uncle Beezer is only 8 years older than me, and I still have so many fond memories of us playing as kids. He was like a sweet older brother when I was very small. Uncle Matt is a saint in that he and aunt Robin took me in and gave me a place to stay when I was a homeless, punk kid fresh out of (barely graduating from) high school. That in and of itself makes me completely in debt forever. The fact that he still likes me and brings me crab cakes every year makes me giddy beyond words.
Yep, love them. *sigh* Until next year…
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What an excellent week! I was *jealous* reading about all the fun!
Comment by Nerak — March 12, 2009 @ 6:03 am
Glad you all had a fun visit. I can picture the whole scene…I split a gut just thinking about it. I’ll never forget the restaurant experience many years ago (12, I think) in SLC. I thought the owner was going to throw us out. I guess some things never change!
Comment by Joan — March 16, 2009 @ 3:47 am
Ha ha. I loved the joke. What a great time!
Comment by Leslie — April 10, 2009 @ 10:54 am