Comments on: Reunion 9 http://b.rox.com/2004/12/20/reunion/ Life in the Flood Zone Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:24:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: mike http://b.rox.com/2004/12/20/reunion/comment-page-1/#comment-3347 mike Thu, 23 Dec 2004 01:26:42 +0000 http://b.rox.com/archives/2004/12/20/reunion/#comment-3347 Adding to the praise, I concur. Great post. So, ever thought about showing the family material to non-family? What about using the family material to craft pieces intended either to work toward your goal or to show to non-family? You imply, sir, the classic first novel. Adding to the praise, I concur. Great post.

So, ever thought about showing the family material to non-family?

What about using the family material to craft pieces intended either to work toward your goal or to show to non-family? You imply, sir, the classic first novel.

]]> By: lemming http://b.rox.com/2004/12/20/reunion/comment-page-1/#comment-3309 lemming Tue, 21 Dec 2004 21:00:59 +0000 http://b.rox.com/archives/2004/12/20/reunion/#comment-3309 A very moving - and terrific - post, I agree. In my biased opinion, of the the biggest things which keeps red and blue staters from really understanding each other is that we have very little long-term intimate contact. You can't change everyone, but maybe you can make a few folks at least understand you. A very moving - and terrific - post, I agree. In my biased opinion, of the the biggest things which keeps red and blue staters from really understanding each other is that we have very little long-term intimate contact. You can’t change everyone, but maybe you can make a few folks at least understand you.

]]> By: Anna http://b.rox.com/2004/12/20/reunion/comment-page-1/#comment-3303 Anna Tue, 21 Dec 2004 18:20:53 +0000 http://b.rox.com/archives/2004/12/20/reunion/#comment-3303 B - your post really moved me. As I grow older, I, too feel the same feelings of alienation from an extended family I really used to enjoy, and I have come to the same conclusion as you. I'm lucky to have an immediate family who loves me for who I am, but the rest of the crew is either too physically distant to really connect with, or they really just don't agree with my choices. (None of my choices are bad choices, mind you - just different from the typical small-town Indiana life script. A little too much education, not enough childbearing.) I agree that the solution may be to try to connect with a few family members. If you're like me, you hold a lot of assumptions about what they think of you - assumptions bourne of your own insecurities. The worst that can happen is that they really don't like the way you run your life - and then you just have to say "fuck 'em." That's far easier said than done, of course, but what's the alternative - living the script they've written for you? For a pat on the back, every 5 years? Coming to this realization still doesn't make family get-togethers easier. But at least it puts the uncomfortableness into perspective, and makes me feel less crazy. B - your post really moved me. As I grow older, I, too feel the same feelings of alienation from an extended family I really used to enjoy, and I have come to the same conclusion as you. I’m lucky to have an immediate family who loves me for who I am, but the rest of the crew is either too physically distant to really connect with, or they really just don’t agree with my choices. (None of my choices are bad choices, mind you - just different from the typical small-town Indiana life script. A little too much education, not enough childbearing.)

I agree that the solution may be to try to connect with a few family members. If you’re like me, you hold a lot of assumptions about what they think of you - assumptions bourne of your own insecurities. The worst that can happen is that they really don’t like the way you run your life - and then you just have to say “fuck ‘em.” That’s far easier said than done, of course, but what’s the alternative - living the script they’ve written for you? For a pat on the back, every 5 years?

Coming to this realization still doesn’t make family get-togethers easier. But at least it puts the uncomfortableness into perspective, and makes me feel less crazy.

]]> By: Mark http://b.rox.com/2004/12/20/reunion/comment-page-1/#comment-3238 Mark Mon, 20 Dec 2004 20:53:59 +0000 http://b.rox.com/archives/2004/12/20/reunion/#comment-3238 Maybe it is fitting that these feelings of alienation that one has when visiting family occur during the Christmas Season. Maybe it is fitting that these feelings of alienation that one has when visiting family occur during the Christmas Season.

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