Visiting with the relatives in Orlando today was a barrel of laughs. The first hilarious incident was when my brother, aunt, cousin, mom, and I were playing tennis. Mom, being the tennis expert among us, was leading us through warm-up drills. We were all doing alright but my brother was really hustling to get every ball. He was doing very well. After we’d done a few exercises mom suggested that we do some cardio. My cousin, aunt, and I were not breathing hard or sweating yet when we heard my bother say, “THIS ISN’T CARDIO?!” Everyone turned to look at him – he was red-faced, breathing hard, and covered in sweat. It sounded like he was going to die if he had to work any harder. I laughed so hard I was temporarily blinded but I heard everyone else laughing too.
After tennis we went to the poolside to have lunch. Mom and her sister cut up the lemon slices that came in their water so that it looked like teeth. It was pretty special. When we went to Outback for dinner, they did it again. The waiter said he had never seen anyone do that before. I don’t find that surprising at all. When my family gets together no social norm is safe.
Later that night my cousin said that she was going to get her hair cut the next day. My uncle said “You’re going to get your hair cut shorter?” Before I knew what was happening I heard myself say “No she’s going to get it cut longer.” I was doing so well, too. He told me it was too bad we didn’t work in the same office because one of us wouldn’t be going home. I know about an office full of people who feel that same way!
