Epic Weekend Saturday: QT with my Real Family

Have I explained to newer folks who ReeRee is to me? She's my Real Family. Family is who you choose to be to others, and she's that.

We used to work at the same place. One day I missed my bus and she drove me to my bus stop. Except my bus stop was 15 miles away in the South 'Burbs and she lived 15 miles in the OTHER DIRECTION. But she insisted cuz I was there and she was there and I'd missed my bus. And that's who she is to others.

She has two daughters (Mara and Colleen), each a year younger than LP and Da Midget. I first met them one random day at ValleyFair. I'd gone cuz I couldn't handle being around my ex. She'd gone cuz she'd promised her older daughter and their cousin. He's a boy a year older than her daughter. Coincidentally? Same gender and age delta between LP and her favorite cousin growing up. I took those two off ReeRee's hands for several hours so she could tend to her crabby infant (Colleen in diapers).

When shit finally hit the fan with the ex and my former faith, she took me in. Which was a very good thing, as any 'Dub who'd have done that for me would face banishment. Her husband had never met me, but let me stay with his wife and daughters. They both said I could stay as long as I needed to and really meant it. They're those kinda people.

(Truth be told? I'm still ME and People Being Kind to Me was weird, foreign and scary. I was out in six weeks with 2.5 rooms of new furniture and an apartment lease)

When LP and Da Midget first met Mara and Colleen, they were--to put it mildly--Freaked the Fuck Out. Here's two OTHER girls that are sorta like them, but not? Running up and hugging me and giggling about our inside jokes and I'm throwing Colleen over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and twirling her around as we both say Ya Know WHAT?!?!? Ya Know WHAT?!!? at each other (long story, started when she was maybe five years old) while my two wonder 'What the HELL?' cuz they'd swear they were looking in on my Alternate Universe Family an shit. Mara and LP never clicked EVAR. Not sure if that was more LP or Mara. Midget and Colleen got along fine.

Anyway, fast forward to the present. My two won't even talk to me....meanwhile, Colleen's extra sure to invite me to her graduation party. The moment her big sis Mara sees me, she comes running for a long hug. Colleen greets me the same as she did when she was five. I reached down to pick her up and twirl her except OH SHIT she's in a short skirt. Very short. Whoops! Back down with you!

And she's a year younger than Midget (remember, Midget's grad was last year) BUT Colleen's been working a job since she was old enough to AND she's going to college like a high school grad should AND she's moving outta the house already. Just because she can and makes enough to support herself in the meantime. OH and she does mean-funny impressions of her mom, cuz what 18 year-old doesnt...

Where's that Alternate Universe when you need one?

ReeRee toured us 'round the house (B had never seen it, I'd helped them move in) and was SURE to show us Colleen's room. In her defense tho? She was at least packing to move.

We played volleyball after Colleen's grad lunch. I was hesitant to play at first--remembering that the ex's friends and family were the nasty-competitive type who yell at each other for missing balls or degrade each other for losing.