Oh Laura, I wish I could give you and B each huge hugs.

Well, crap. There's a family reunion on the horizon, so I will be going to Trumpistan in July. Woe is me.

I feel like I can put up with the Trump supporter who will be celebrating turning 80. She's mild mannered and a sweetheart and will not be a loudmouth about her beliefs.

Her oldest son is the Alpha Male of our generation and what he's put me through with all his Shunning and Ostracizing has scared his sister but good. She thinks if she gives offense she'll end up all left out. Like me.

I can probably put up with him, too. I do hope he won't corner me and insist I take on his religion again.

My problem is mostly with Cousin's Bitch Wife. She thinks I'm a Bad Influence. I sent a present to their kids... and she threw it away. Into the garbage. Unopened. Now I know what happened to the personal letters and birthday cards that mysteriously went missing.

I've been advised to stay out of her way and keep my mouth shut and get over their shit because it's water under the bridge.... but I don't know if I can behave perfectly enough not to set them off into a scolding fit.

This much dread doesn't bode well for a pleasant trip. It SUCKS.

Oh man, I dread those encounters myself. I've become expert at keeping to safe topics. At least with the political stuff. The personal nastiness, well that is a lot harder. This too shall pass. This too shall pass. Maybe there will be a seriously drunk and disorderly relative to soak up the attention!!

Katerina, are there people you are going for that you otherwise wouldn't see? Because that sounds like a whole lot of "gosh, I already have plans that weekend, so sad!" To me.

KBee, for real, that kind of shit is why I haven't seen or spoken to most of my extended family since I left for college. Are there any you'd miss if they didn't keep in touch?

Oh Katie, in your shoes, I just wouldn't be able to make myself go, no matter what they said about my non-appearance. They do not *deserve* the blessing of you in their presence, and I wouldn't squander it on undeserving beings, relatives or not.

KB, if I had a vote, I vote you visit a Buffista that weekend instead.

Thanks, you guys. It is incredibly stressful and I'm out on the Left Coast far away from the self righteous in Virginia.

I feel I have to go. My Dad offered to finance airfare and hotel because he's feeling strongly about family seeing as he is lucky to be alive right now after his health adventure.

The birthday girl is his little sister and the date they chose is Uncle Billy's birthday. Bill was the youngest and had the gift of making children and pets automatically adore him. We talk about him so much that DH feels like he knew him too. Sadly it was AIDS and he died pretty much when Freddie Mercury did.

I don't think I can take hearing about how he's in Hell.

These people were a normal, secular family when I was a teenager. The two oldest boys married Religion and have become people very different from the ones I remember having fun with.

The person most likely to get drunk and make a scene is the rich Bitch Wife. She screamed at my sister and broke a few wine glasses at a wedding. So much fun to hang out with!

Maybe if I want to provoke her I'll "accidentally " call her Patty. That poor girl was the first wife of the Sanctimonious One... and the Bitch's best friend for awhile.

I could also rub it in that I'm still enjoying my first marriage, which will be 21 years old this week. Neener neener neener, ya had to get divorced, ya cheaters. My marriage is older than yours so bow down.

I'm guilty of doing the warm smiling hugs and 'so happy to see you' thing then quickly saying I'm parched and have to get some water and flee. Conflict avoidance is me. I've changed plans to visit relatives because of current headline news events on more than one occasion because I suspected conflict.

I hope you can successfully spend most of the time with the sane relatives and enjoy memories of your Uncle Billy.