4th of July. We and the Hortons get together, and someone suggests we draw Christmas names now. Let me explain to you: It has been a tradition that we get together, put everyone's names in a hat or bowl (grandma, grandpa, uncles and aunts, and cousins) and draw names for Christmas. You get a person's name, you buy them a little gift for the family Christmas party. Those who are unable to make it to the part mail their gifts and get their gifts in the mail. It's a nice little tradition that helped you think of the people in the family, think of what they might like. The anticipation of surprising the person you drew and of the surprise you might receive always extended the Christmas feeling a little more, and since the drawing was always random and fair, and it was a surprise who you got.
Until...
Some people decided they were drawing other people "too often." These people tried to devise a "rotating schedule" to ensure that they didn't get those people. They also felt that what certain people gave and what they got was unequal ("It's the thought that counts" apparently isn't enough). When that didn't work, all heck broke loose. It was decided (among the aunts and uncles, some talking until they were blue in the face to prove their point, the others who didn't really care not standing up and caring...and NOBODY asked the cousins) that instead of drawing names and giving individual gifts "we" would put money into a bank account or some such thing and do a big "family reunion" every 3 or 4 years...or was it every other year? That way, you don't actually have to think about any individual person, you don't have to give your family any more thought than just writing a check. In addition, the families who can't come to the reunion...well, they don't have to deal with it at all! And let's face it...people are more likely to have Christmas free for a family party of a few days than the a week in the summer (when there are sports camps, marching band practices, summer jobs...) The cousins who were upset by this were given talking-tos by the uncles and aunts.
The first year, a few cousins and a few of the uncles and aunts who actually liked the tradition drew names on their own and exchanged gifts, as well as putting money into the bank. The reunion was lovely and all had fun. And although it was not the same, it was good. The second year the same thing happened, minus the reunion because it was not the year for it.
Then came July 4th, 2009. Someone asks the innocent question: "So, are we drawing names now?" And all of a sudden there's a big discussion. Since this year was supposedly a year for a reunion (and thus we see how well THAT is working, since there has been no reunion...families are busy with their own stuff), people are concerned that someone--who came up with the idea for both the rotating schedule and cutting out drawing names-- will be upset if we draw names anyway. So what do we do?
We do NOTHING. Yep, that's right! No reunion, no drawing names. No Christmas tradition whatsoever, not even a semblance of the thing. The architects of the whole thing are so lucky--they no longer have to even deal with the family by even writing a check! I bet they're so happy!
I, however, am not. And I know a few cousins who are not happy, either. But then again, we're only "children." We don't count.
Happy Christmas.
EDIT: I do realize that this makes me sound hateful toward my family, so let me clarify. I do love these people, but it bothers me that the majority is bending to the few because they're afraid the few will be offended if they don't. I don't approve of letting them steamroll over all of us. Uncles and aunts who like the tradition say "Grandma and Grandpa decided this, so we deal with it, and you deal with it because you were born a cousin." Well, I know that "Grandma and Grandpa" only said "okay" to the idea because they were afraid some uncles/aunts would get offended and have major family fallout if they didn't. So basically, the majority of uncles/aunts, cousins AND grandma/grandpa are keeping quiet and being run over by a few for the sake of "family unity." And I don't approve of that. It seems too much like what's happening in the world today. As my mom says, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." Well, then why don't the rest of us be a little more squeaky about this situation instead of just saying "Well, I guess, whatever..." THAT'S what's bothering me. That and this whole, "You were born this way (a cousin), so you don't get a vote." Yeah, that just great. You know, this is like taxation w/o representation! Grr.
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