I did a crazy thing. I suggested a vacation with my father, my brother, and my in-laws! It sounded like a good idea at first, then I recalled my last combined family vacation. It involved Mom and the in-laws, fireworks, and a few angry neighbors. Let’s just say it didn’t exactly go well.
Hubby and I drove to Walla Walla to spend the first night with the in-laws and prep them for the impending visit. The only eventful part of the journey was Hubby’s “Cheetos Crotch.” We were eating Cheetos during the drive. He kept dropping them. When we got out of the car we noticed that the crotch of his shorts was stained orange from the dropped Cheetos – as you can imagine, hilarity ensued.
That evening I decided I had better call Dad and Big Bro to check in that everyone was still coming and getting a rough estimate as to when we’d be meeting up. Dad informed me that Big Bro had just informed him that he had invited his in-laws along too! Whaaaa? And they would be joining us on the night that my in-laws were hosting a BBQ for us at their house!! Whaaa? I returned to the dining table and sheepishly asked Mum-in-law if she minded adding two more people to the BBQ? I quickly added that I would purchase all of the beverages and desserts for the BBQ to make up for the extreme rudeness of my family. Being a fine Englishwoman who is an expert at hosting rude Americans (and in fact gave birth to two pretty rude Americans), she indicated that hosting 10 rather than 8 was no big deal. Phew… Later that night, when I called back to find out if everyone ate pork or chicken sis-in-law wanted to know if I was mad and if it was ok and would I swear on her dog’s life that I really wasn’t mad? I refused to swear on anyone’s life but assurred her it would be ok. My thoughts however were something akin to: Isn’t this the old adage “It’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission?” (In fact, I realize now that this is my family motto!) Isn’t that kind of not caring at all if I’m mad or not? The good thing though, is Sis-in-law’s in-laws are very nice and entertaining people. They are fun and gracious, so I knew it really would be ok. I was just sort of personally taken aback by the lack of regard for Hubby and me, then again, this is family. Something like this always happens! At least I wasn’t left with the $500 dinner bill, shot in the shoulder, left naked and drunk on the highway, talked into helping release all the dogs from the pound, or suddenly the proud new caretaker of 6 baby raccoons who had jokingly been left in the back of my car (which they had torn up and peed all over)…this was nothing compared to most family vacations.
The next day hubby and I drove to Wallowa Lake where we were meeting my family and staying for two days. Wallowa Lake is a peaceful, mountainous place in Oregon. The mountains there are so rugged that you can only pack into them. Dad’s GPS system didn’t know it existed. Google Maps didn’t know it existed. The cell phones didn’t work. It is wondrous, quiet, and off the electronic map. The town has tame deer who walk right up to you in hopes of getting some free food. I always bring chopped carrots to feed them (even though the locals don’t want you feeding them.) I’ve seen less intelligent people feeding the deer CheesIts! It’s a good thing Hubby solved the Cheetos Crotch problem by the time we got there or who knows what would have happened! One of Hubby’s co-workers tells a story of returning to his cabin at Wallowa Lake to find some deer eating the dog’s food. The town of Joseph is a 5 minute drive away and hosts a bronze foundry. There are several beautiful bronze statues throughout the town and some lovely showrooms. You can tour the foundry as well, although, my family ‘was not interested,’ so maybe next time I’ll do the tour. Chief Joseph (referred to as Captain Joseph by my inebriated sister-in-law) is buried nearby. My Step-mom, bless her heart (she was the only one who seemed interested in the rich history of the region), works with a man who’s great-great-grandfather traded with Chief Joseph – so we visited Chief Joseph’s gravesite. People leave all sorts of bobbles on the grave and in the tree next to the grave. It is a very cool memorial.
Unfortunately, I was angry at the time because nobody cared what we did – but whenever I suggested something – they weren’t interested. It turns out – they all wanted a nap but wouldn’t just say so. I felt badly that I was harboring ill feelings at this beautiful place honoring a man and his people who had gone through really really bad times. I mean, really nothing in my life will ever be as bad as what Joseph went through – no matter how many in-laws of in-laws showed up at my in-laws BBQ. So, at that moment, I let it go.