Christmas with my right wing parents [View all]

[Lurker Deluxe]

I keep reading the stories here about everyone's horrible right wing families so I thought I would share mine.

Me and my parents do not get along about many things, such is the nature of the relationship. We have been at odds for some ... oh ... for some 35+ years, since I was a teenager. They bug me about going to church, I do not go. They bitch about my drinking, I still drink. They complain about my lifestyle, I still do my thing. You know what else?

I love my parents, and if it came to you or them ... it would be them. every. single. time.

So ... I generally spend a few days with them over Christmas holiday and this year was no different. They live about 40 miles from me so it is not like I do not see them on a regular basis but the Christmas holiday allows me to take a couple of extra days and spend it with them. They are in their mid 80s now and mom has Parkinson's and that is tough for me to watch, dad has had health issue since his 50's but still seems to stay busier than me. They live in a little two bedroom trailer in Cut and Shoot Texas and have been retired for 20 years or so.

Sitting around the table we argue about this and that, sometimes it gets a little heated but for the most part it stays civil ... because of me, I know when to stop. My father pretty much puts me to work as soon as I get there and I know it is coming. Lots of tree branches to get piled up, something is always broke that needs a little more than my father can give it ... normal stuff, I do not mind.

This year when I asked what was new my father told me he had "picked up two more shifts at the food bank" that the church they attend sponsors. He had a couple of boxes of food and asked if I needed any and I scolded him for taking it when he did not need it. He explained that they receive more food than they can move because the walk in cooler at the church has been broken and they cannot afford to fix it so they cannot keep the food for any length of time. I suggested he find someone else who needs it and he explained that he helps to feed some families in the area and "was just asking" if I wanted anything ... it was Christmas eve and he had just got the stuff the day before. They have purchased a second refrigerator that is in the "shop" ( an old wood shed ) so the food stays better.

Christmas morning we loaded up his truck and drove around to some houses and dropped of packages of food to others. We spent about an hour at each place, trailers in the woods, and everyone of them insisted he take some gift ... which he did, only to give it to the next family. I teared up a little here and there, and I ain't no crier.

We got back to the trailer and mom does a prime rib and it was great, as always. We spent the rest of the day burning up piles of tree branches, trimming, and mowing. 65 degrees, eh ... Texas. The next morning, Wednesday, my parents were off to church and I told them I would go ( I never go, they do not even ask anymore ) but I wanted to drive myself. I followed them there in my work truck and once there and went and found that cooler. Old piece of crap that it was ... it did not need much. A new compressor, contact, and capacitor would do it. After my parents got done with the service they introduced me around to a great group of older retired people. I told them what was wrong with the cooler and they explained they knew but the estimate to fix it was over $3,000 and they just did not have it.

I left there that night and came home and this morning called my boss and told him the story I am telling you. His response was as I expected, "how much are the parts ... $500 or so ... you put them in I will pay for the parts". I stopped at the parts house and picked up what I needed and told no one, I just showed up and went to work. Had it knocked out about 3 this afternoon when my father showed up for his "shift". Had to fight them off a little to not get paid.

Merry Christmas.

Stuck around a little and helped my right wing bigoted father put donated food in boxes and load them in his truck so he could get out there and deliver the care packages ... horrible Trump voter that he is.

Not that my family is any better or worse than any other, the point is simple ... you only have one family and this time of year you should remember that and come together to do what it should be all about. Help those who you can, anyway you can and put those differences aside. For a minute or two anyways.

Merry Christmas all, hope your holiday was as enjoyable as mine.