This is how I thought it would go when I met Primo’s parents.
Doris: Goldie, we are so excited to meet you! Primohas told
us a little bit about you, but not enough.
Sly: Yes! Welcome to our home. We are happy to have you
here. Would you like a glass of water or juice? I’m afraid we don’t have diet
soda, but we can get some at the store tomorrow. Doris did ask Primo what you
drink, but he never got back to her.
Me: A glass of water would be lovely. Thank you.
Doris: Are you hungry? You guys have been traveling since
early this morning and I am pretty sure they don’t feed people on planes
anymore. Did you stop for lunch on the way here? If you didn’t, I can make some
sandwiches or get out some cheese and crackers and grapes. You must be hungry!
Oh! And I did make an apple pie. It’s Primo’s favorite. No time like the present
to have pie!
Me: Pie sounds great! I am hungry.
Doris: Oh! Before I forget – I thought I asked Primo to ask
you this, but is there anything you cannot eat?
Me: No! I like everything but tripe!
Primo: I like tripe.
Sly and Doris laugh merrily.
Doris: Oh that son of ours! He is indeed an adventurous
eater! Don’t worry! I am not planning on serving tripe!
Primo: But I don’t like anything with that orange flavor,
like beets or chard or winter squash.
Me: And nothing that ends in “erry!”
Sly and Doris laugh again.
Doris: I see you have been learning Primo’s food rules!
Me: Yes! Honestly, how did you put up with him when he was a
kid? He is so picky!
Doris: Oh my! There were times when he ate a cheese sandwich
for supper. My mother was from Georgia and I like my greens! I had no intention
of being a short-order cook in my own kitchen.
Me: Good for you!
Doris: Goldie, Primo told me that even though you both live
in Austin, you two met at your college reunion. What was your major?
Me: I didn’t choose as wisely as Primo did – I majored in English.
Sly (laughing): Wait a second there, young lady! I was an
English professor. English is a perfectly fine major!
Me: I know. My original plan was to major in biomedical
engineering, go to medical school, and then design artificial body parts. I didn’t
quite make it. Instead, I went to the University of Texas for my MBA.
Sly: Well, the world of English is happy to have you! Who is
your favorite author?
Doris: Let’s not get into shop talk, dear! Goldie, Primo tells us you also live in Austin. Are you from Austin?
Me: No, I moved there for a job after college.
Sly: Oh really? And what is your work?
Me: These days, I do marketing for a tech company.
Sly: That is a field about which I know nothing. Tell me
more!
Me: [blah blah blah about my job]
Doris: Dear, where are you from originally?
Me: My dad was in the air force, so we moved around a lot
when I was a kid.
Sly: Really? I was in the navy for four years. Where was
your father stationed?
Me: We lived in Spain when I was a kid and in the Panama
Canal Zone when I was in high school. Most of the rest of the time in the US
was in Texas.
Doris: How fascinating! We lived in Michigan briefly while
Sly was completing his graduate work, but then we lived in Pittsburgh for the
next forty years until he retired and we moved here. It must have been so
interesting to live in so many different places! How I loved visiting my grandparents
in Georgia. I love to travel.
Me: Yes, I do, too. That’s where all my disposable income
has gone over the years. I don’t have a fancy car, but I have traveled. And I
do like Georgia. I like the south a lot. I am not a fan of snow!
Doris: I have to admit I do not miss the Pennsylvania
winters at all!
Sly: Nor do I! Shoveling snow certainly loses its charm
after a short time. And once the kids were out of the house, we had nobody to
delegate it to!
Doris: You lived in Spain and Panama? Do you speak Spanish?
Doris: You were a Peace Corps volunteer? That is wonderful!
We are huge liberals so of course we support the Peace Corps! Do you realize
how many Parent Points you have just gained with us? How could we ever find a
better partner for our beloved son? Welcome, welcome, welcome!
Sly: Let’s see. You went to the same college as our son, so
you clearly meet the educational standard we would have for a daughter in law.
And you, unlike our son, have a master’s degree – and from a top university! In
addition, you have one of the best liberal credentials possible – you were a
Peace Corps volunteer. Truly we have hit the jackpot for potential daughters in
law. Welcome indeed!
Are you thinking, “Yeah, that’s how these things go” or are
you thinking, “Bless your stupid little heart, Goldie, you are delusional.
There is no way the conversation could have gone that well. That is fiction!”
If you picked Option 2, you would be correct.
This is how it actually goes.
Sly [not making eye contact with me]: Primo, what do you
think about the Pirates this year?
Primo: Sports talk
Sly: More sports talk
Primo: Even more sports talk
Doris: But what about politics? We need to talk about
politics!
Sly: Oh definitely! Politics talk
Primo: More politics talk
Doris: And even more politics talk
Sly: Politics!
Doris: Politics squared!
Primo: Yeah OK politics
Sly: Stupid people who don’t agree with me on politics!
Doris: Totally stupid! If they don’t agree with us, it’s
because they are stupid!
Primo: Well, sometimes people have valid reasons for
disagreeing.
Sly: Those stupid people are too stupid to live. Why are
they even allowed to stay in this country?
... and they all lived happily ever after... or not!
ReplyDeleteTo show zero interest in you on your first meeting is just rude. Especially when you know there were areas that had potential for bonding. An unfulfilled potential :(
ReplyDeleteIt really did set the tone for the following years. I feel for you.
(first time commenting, followed you from the amazing AAM)
Your version was maybe a little idyllic, but to ignore you entirely was unforgivably rude.
ReplyDeleteAs a person who was not embraced by her own in-laws (ha! understatement) I am fascinated by these people who apparently have such an abundance of family and society that they can afford to shun one more potential member. Maybe it's because I'm an only child and my own family is hopelessly defective, but I'm constantly on the hunt for more people I can add to my circle.
Then again, Sly and Doris died all but alone...
Then again, Sly and Doris died all but alone...
DeleteExactly.
My family is very much The more the merrier.