Thanksgiving

Managed to avoid most of the contact with her, at least until after the guests left.  3 counts of her turning and starting a conversation while I was talking to her - one while I was answering a direct question she had asked.  Once, she almost flared up at me for setting the knife and sausage down on the table without a cutting board.  Another time, my poor nephew broke one of my kid's cheap toy swords, and his dad caught him trying to hide it.  Pulled him by the cuff over to my wife, and made him explain how he broke the toy.  My wife was calm, 'Hey, no problem - we can fix it.  Thanks for telling me.'  "And that's why you've got to take responsibility - there's nothing to worry about.'  I wanted to interrupt and say 'Umm, I've seen her go purple in the face at one of the kids' toys being broken before.  He had plenty to be scared of.'  I didn't, of course, although I mentioned something along those lines to my mother.It was a pretty nice thanksgiving, though.  I didn't let her get to me, and my children are adorable.  The cousins started putting on their shoes, and he planted himself in front of the door, arms spread wide, saying 'No.  Cousins are not leaving.'   I spent most of my time with Him, my dad, and a few of the other guys discussing classical battle tactics with my 13 yo nephew.  It was pretty cool:)
Now I'm home, and have my carcasses simmering in the stew pot for dinner tomorrow.  I do love thanksgiving soup!