Merry ???? Christmas

My family seems a bit Cosby-ish.  Our get togethers are always warm and family-esque.  We laugh and enjoy each other's company.  Often times we gather around some photos and its just really a scene out of a TV Land special.

Until yesterday......Yesterday was the first time in my 25 +1 yrs on this earth that there was DRAMA at the family gathering....well lets pare down the 'drama' and just say it was an 'interesting' Christmas Day.

Here we go....opened the presents with my immediate family and the boyfriends(mine and my sisters) were present..o'shea & b.cakes....it was a glorious time with loads of laughter (pics to come in a later post).

Then we made our usual trek out to Grandma's to open presents again with the extended family.  When we got there Grandpa was missing.  It was odd initially, but we figured he just ran to Walgreens and would be right back.

O'shea and b.cakes made a run to the liquor store for some crown & coke and we settled in nicely.  So....a hour later we decided to eat even though Gramps was still out.  While eating , the story surrounding his 'disappearance' came out.  Apparently he and grams had a bit of a tif and he left in a huff.

Sidebar: My entire family operates much like I do...we get upset...we disappear....we reappear...and everything is fine.

So the day progresses and the sun sets on the boy's (cousins, brothers, boyfriends) football game in the back yard.  As it gets later the air starts to change and now everyone is getting worried because Gramps still hasn't returned.  He isn't picking up his cell, he isn't at anyone else's house, he didn't go in to work....He couldn't be located.....

Minutes turn to hours and now he's been gone for over 6 hours on Christmas Day.  The tree is in the corner still bursting with gifts.  The holiday spirit is precariously suspended in the room, discomfort and anxiety abounds.

Pause

This is the first Christmas with our family for o'shea & b.cakes   

Continue

So finally the decision is made to call the police and file a missing person's report.  Grams starts to dig through papers in her room to find his tag information, paperwork is being filled out, anxiety is peaking. 

Uncle takes one car and is circling Royal Palm trying to spot gramp's truck, cousins are out in their cars checking parks and strip mall parking lots, uncles and boyfriends are sipping on drinks to steady their nerves.

As auntie finishes the call with the police to get the official search party started, gramps pulls up.

The family takes one look at his truck and at him, everyone realizes that he's ok and that's when the emotions started to flow.

Uncle peeled out of the driveway with such anger that I'm sure he'll need new tires.  Sister & cousins were overcome with tears and emotions.  Grams locked her door and sat in her room.  Mom cornered gramps and forced him to realize the emotional rollercoaster he put everyone through.

It was as though someone had uncorked the bottled emotions and poured them out.

Pause

Did I mention this was the FIRST Christmas that the boyfriends spent with us? (Welcome to the family).

A hour later the emotions simmered.  Gramps apologized to everyone and then sat down all 6 grandchildren and hugged and apologized to them.  He realized his selfishness and wanted to just be forgiven and to move on.  Note by grandchildren I mean the 6 of us (ages 18-26) and my bestie who's (27ish).

Ok so...we opened the presents, cranked up the ska, reggae, calypso, r&b jams on the record player...yep i said record....and danced the night away.....

Bestie said it best: "I wasn't ready for where the night was going...."