Well Christmas is just around the corner.
My Mother has already started to cook. Being from an Italian family means we eat the whole day till we are so full that we just pass out. But according to her it is never enough. We are always treated to a wonderful feast of food. Here in Oz though it is hot on Christmas day (usually) and so we dont have a hugely hot meal, it is mainly fish and pasta. Lasagna, canneloni, spaghetti... yes all in the one meal, prawns, baked fish, lobsters, balmain bugs, oysters, fried fish... salads.. on and on it never stops.
This time of the year though for my family at least there is always some sort of crisis. Ever since I was little there has always either been a death in the family or someone in hospital. This year my Aunty died, right smack on my birthday. Typical. I remember on my 13th birthday my dad had a triple by pass. That was the year my uncle took me to McDonalds, and I kid you not I ate 13 big macs. Yes 13. I think it was from the shock of seeing my dad hooked upto all these wires and tubes. I have never attempted that feat again.
So today I am about to take my parents to Sydney to my Aunties funeral. I had to take a day off work, and werent they happy (not) that I wasnt going to be in today, especially seeing it is the busiest time. But Mum asked me to take her to the funeral and that's what Im going to do.
Im a little nervous though. I haven't seen most of the people that will be there since I was all of five!. I can vaguely remember my Aunt who died. But Im excited about seeing my cousins who all should be there. Will they remember me? I doubt it. I will probably get ..gee havent you grown! Well I am 32 now and they are all probably in their 40's. What I will be doing though is having my gaydar on high alert. Is there more than one of us in the family?
This will be interesting.