Family

I wish my family was closer than what they are. I mean, my immediate family is close. But it’s all the relatives on my mom’s side. We talk to my uncle and my grandma in Ohio… but that’s about it. And I don’t think I’ve received even a birthday card form my Grandmother since I was maybe 13. But she’s a bitch anyways.

My uncle Lee and aunt Laurie live in Cleveland and I can’t remember the last time they called us. And I haven’t seen their daughters, my cousins Lee Ann and Danielle, in at least 7 years. They should now be 16 and 15. I always wonder how they are doing.

My grandfather and his wife… we haven’t heard from them in at least 2 years. My grandma Jean owned a personal care home in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. So when I was living there I wanted to see them. So I called and the number had been disconnected. So I went up there. The home was closed and it looked like no one was there. They moved and didn’t let my parents know or anything. Nice, huh?

We talk to my uncle Bruce every now & then. He was in prison for I think 8 years. But now he’s out and he’s remarried to a wonderful woman. I saw him in September when my parents came up to visit. His daughters were there the week before we visited! I could have seen my cousins! Andrea is 15 I think, Jamie is probably 12 or 13… and I can’t even remember the littlest one’s name. I never got to see her. I haven’t seen the other 2 since 1992. When my uncle went to prison my aunt divorced him and took the girls. My mom got an e-mail from her a couple of months ago with pictures of my cousins. But that’s about it.

My grandmother… I can’t stand that woman. When I saw her in September she ignored me the entire time I was there. And as I said, I haven’t received so much as a birthday card from her in years. She thinks I’m an ungrateful child because I talk back to my parents. Well, I think she’s an ungrateful parent because of the way she treated and still treats her children. My uncle Lee would kill her if he ever saw her again. They refuse to speak to each other.

My dad’s side of the family is a different story. Both my paternal grandparents have passed away. My dad has one brother in Cleveland. They talk every couple of weeks. And I saw my cousins in July. They’re both in college now. Jen is going to be a teacher. And Ashley is going to be a doctor. There was a long time when my dad & his brother didn’t talk because of my aunt. But they’re over that now. It was stupid anyways.

Nice family, huh? Everyone refuses to pick up the phone. I would like to do more about it, but my mom wouldn’t let me for the longest time. But she recently found my uncle Lee’s # so I think she will call him soon.

I remember when I was little… before we moved to FL anyways, when the whole family would go to grandpap’s for Xmas. All my aunts and uncles and cousins. I miss that.