I hate it when my computer demands an update. Even after I comply and choose 'Express Install,' it's not done with me. No, sir. For the next infinity days, it will implore me to 'Restart Now.' But I don't give in that easily. Instead, I click 'Restart Later' every five minutes until one day the computer loses power/spontaneously shuts down/asks the Husband to 'Restart Now' [ever the diplomat, he bridges the gap between me and machine].
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I choose 'Restart Later' in a lot of other ways, too.
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The in-laws surfaced yesterday. For a lot of reasons, the Husband and I have limited contact with his immediate family. We see his Grandmother and extended family pretty regularly [who can resist when we're greeted with off-the-boat Italian deliciosity?], but since we married, our relationship with his parents and sisters has been... strained, to say the least.
How cliche.
But maybe it takes a life-altering moment like that to put things into perspective. Simply put, it became clear to the Husband that his participation in his family was completely one-sided. Husband mulled this over on the beaches of Costa Rica during our honeymoon [how romantic!], and decided that, instead of phoning them, we'd wait for them to call us upon our return [he did let them know that we'd arrived safely home]. They didn't call and, predictably, the situation deteriorated and that was that.
The situation isn't a happy one, but we [especially he, Husband] are markedly happier now that we're not jumping through hoops all the time. Our legs are recovering nicely as well [really bad, awful joke].
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Of course, as they say, a baby changes everything.
When addressing our baby announcements [I hear you snickering! Yes, it took me nearly two months to get them ready to be mailed, OK? Mother of the year, right here.], Husband decided to send one to his parents, largely to placate his beloved Grandmother [whose relationship with them is as, or more, strained as ours, and for many of the same reasons... but do as she says and all that, right?].
This prompted a response, in e-mail form. I won't repost it here, but I will admit that it was not combative. On its face, at least. They want to know what to buy for the baby. [Not that I think any gift is necessary, but that is most definitely not a response they would accept. Trust me.]
Sigh.
It's fine, I guess. We'll suggest a savings bond for college and there will be some exchange; I don't know if we'll see them or they'll mail it.
But the can's open and there are worms everywhere.
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Where is that button when I need it?
Where is that button when I need it?
2 comments:
i can understand...my ex-Mil was a piece of work.
Dig in - the brief nod of excitement will pass. We have a similar family estrangement here, which was oh-so-briefly rekindled after the births of our children. The awkward exchanges resulted in a small handful of visits (three? four?) and then nothing again. It's been about six years since last contact and my guess is that we're safe until the birth of our next child, sometime in nineteen-ninety-never.
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