Reunion

Yesterday was my grandpa's 70th birthday. There was a big celebration at their house in Spanish Fork, UT. It's a nice old house, it's very classy and definitely a nostalgic thing. For as long as I can remember, pulling into their driveway meant a one-way ticket to fun. As of recent, however, the house has called upon a different exclamation when I see it; "drama!" Since my dad lives there, and everything.. It's not so special whenever I see it, and I've associated it with most things I find displeasing about my father. It's so peculiar that we tend to see the things we don't like in a person much more easily than we see the things we do like.

Anyways... I really enjoyed being there yesterday. One particular family of cousins, of whom I don't see very often owing to the fact that they used to live in Singapore, were all there. That was very fun. We got along very well, and it was definitely not as socially awkward as most reunions usually are. In fact, this was probably my favorite one so far. It seemed like things finally clicked between everyone, and we all realized, 'Wow! We're cousins!" There was still a lot of the 'what's your name again?' thing... But for the most part, I really enjoyed the experience.

When the birthday cake was finally cut, and the happy birthday song was sung, my grandpa got up to give the speech that any 70th birthday requires. Honestly, I think he deserves it, 70 years is a long time. When he started talking, it was back to the same old thing though. Jesus Christ's atonement, and how we can all be forgiven for whatever sins we're committed. He told a really good story about when he and my grandma were on their mission. The whole thing, though, really got me to thinking. What's with this? Why is it that every single time there's a family reunion, (which has happened increasingly often in the past year or so) it's as if we're all subject to some sort of sermon. Honestly, why can't it just be a thank you speech for all the good years? Some sort of anecdote making a play on your age? Tell a funny story about how you can't believe you're actually 70. I mean, it doesn't make me angry that he said something, even the fact that it was about religion. What pisses me off, is that the entire speech was focused on the family repenting of some kind of sin that we've all done. It's like... Really? Please tell me... What have I done that is so bad that it deserves public reprimanding? Sure, maybe not a very specific telling off, but still, it's just about the same thing.

I love my granddad... don't get me wrong. I just have a problem with the whole seriousness of everything when birthdays are supposed to be an uplifting, carefree environment.. Honestly... It really made me sad, and I'll admit, a bit guilty about some of the things that I've done (though, there aren't that many things I actually have done). That's not what a party is about... Might as well get on calling it a birthday mourning, or something of the sorts. Needless to say, it really subdued my attitude the rest of the day. It was just one more reason why I don't really like family reunions, even after this one was particularly exhilarating.