Aw, Teppy, that stinks on ice. I'm sorry. I hope your friend has an easy time of it.

Hec, Laura, I see you. I've talked enough here about my family tsuris, but will mention that one of the "funny" side-effects of all the genealogy work is recently introduced cousins messaging me to ask, hesitantly, if I know of any mental health issues in particular lines? It's happened often enough now that I calmly kick out a virtual chair and ask how long they've got, for which serenity I thank my therapist, who put up with a lot of "Okay, so much of my childhood finally makes sense, and what the gargling fuck?!?" emails over the last couple of years.

Brendon had major issues with his mother and was an adult before he had a clue how ill-prepared she was for being a parent. The woman's birth parents were divorced in 1945 and dad got custody because mom was an alcoholic. Then she was adopted at 2 and her dad was a horrible person, and her mom an emotionally abusive alcoholic. Then at 18 she escaped by marrying, and he went to Vietnam and came home an alcoholic. She raised the 4 kids with zero role models and no help at all from her husband. He is much more understanding of her burdens now.

I think my sister is coming to this place, particularly with our dad (they had a very contentious relationship when she was growing up).

I believe part of the reason he was such an extraordinary father to our boys was he never wanted to be so completely incompetent as his parents.

Unless you lucked into Perfect Parents I think everybody who becomes a parent has a little checklist of What Not To Do from their own experience.

They didn't even realize he hadn't graduated HS when they moved to Florida from Nebraska. He took the bus himself and enrolled. Parents!

Jeez! I can't even imagine having to take on that much control at that age.

Timelies all!

It's been raining here pretty much all day, so we've been trying to keep Mr. S occupied.(Nevermind that he woke us up before 6:30 this morning, he's raring to go.) That has included going outside despite the rain a couple times.

Oh no, Tep! I'm so sorry.

I’m consoling myself with a quick stop at McDonald’s for a nasty yet good Filet O Fish (I’m going to let the chips fall where they may re: the gluteny bun). I haven’t had one of these in at least 10 years. Probably won’t have one for another 10, but this one was satisfying.

Back on the road!

Gimmie that Filet O Fish!

Oh, Teppy! That is just awful. I'm sorry your get together ended so badly.

Jeez! I can't even imagine having to take on that much control at that age.

Yeah, he was covering their electric bills and took on all kinds of responsibility in his teens. All 4 of the kids are incredibly responsible. They had to be early on. DH was the eldest so he dealt with the most.

Me, just the opposite. Two great parents and great memories of family love and support. I was a total jerk to them, and felt like crap about it when I was old enough to realize how blessed my life was. Karma dealt me one for that, big time. Hoping it will pass.

Gimmie that Filet O Fish!

Loving fish as I do, and living where fresh fish is abundant, the Filet O Fish is a horror. Now it can be darn tasty, and I have consumed them, but I can't really think of it as fish. More like fish flavored block of fried stuff.

Gimmie that Filet O Fish!

I love that commercial, although this one is a close second: [link]

the Filet O Fish is a horror.

I mean, definitely. I love really good, fresh seafood, and that sandwich doesn’t meet any of those criteria. BUT:

Now it can be darn tasty

There’s that ^^^^^^

I’m home and going to take a Covid test and unpack and fall into bed. (If the test is negative, I’ll take one tomorrow; if that one is negative, I’ll take another one Monday. I’m fuzzy on how long the incubation period is for Omicron.)

for which serenity I thank my therapist, who put up with a lot of "Okay, so much of my childhood finally makes sense, and what the gargling fuck?!?" emails over the last couple of years.

My sister advised me not to discuss this family history with my kids, but I think I need to so they have a context and history to understand where they came from, and what to look out for.