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.

Katerina, I'm agnostic, so I know my views on religion won't be respected in many quarters. But I believe that any deity that would consign a good person to eternal torment for failure to follow certain arbitrary rules is not a benevolent deity and does not deserve to be worshipped.

(Disclaimer: The above applies to the Christian God as viewed and worshipped by Katerina's relatives and is not intended to apply to all versions of Christianity or other religions.)

Fred, I agree with you. Yours is a sensible view.

Fortunately I have automatic nice manners and plans to quick fade from uncomfortable conversation. I know it won't be that bad.

But my feelings are hurt and part of me wants to go out there in a blaze of glory with a scream of HULK SMASH!

:: quietly freaks out ::

I need to not stare obsessively at my Patreon backers count. That way lies madness, right?

Deep breaths, Atropa. I hope you were able to settle down and rest last night.

But my feelings are hurt and part of me wants to go out there in a blaze of glory with a scream of HULK SMASH!

Yes, I get that, but try and be satisfied that they can't accomplish bringing the Hulk out.