[MRM]

I used to. My father was one of eight children, so his side of the family is pretty big and diverse. Almost all of whom are not socially acceptable. I have an uncle who is a facist and an aunt who is a socialist. About half of the rest of the family follows the socialist in varying degrees of worship of Der Komisar, and the other half follow the facist with varying degrees of xeonophobia and racism. Both factions are very aggresive in pushing their views. My dad was the middle child, and my grandmother always used to say he was the peacemaker of the family, even as a kid. He was about the only sane one of the bunch. Family gatherings generally lasted until one faction got mad enough at the other faction to order them out of the house. For reasons that still escape me the whole crazy crew would meet for the next holiday to start all over again. Did you know the Federal Reserve was controled by seven Jewish bankers? I guess there are seven members of the board of governors, but I don't think that's what they meant. Then there's my mother, who's harmless but insane.

After my father died a few years ago I broke off contact with that branch of the family and I have never been happier. Then it struck me. If it is unpleasant to go to family holliday gatherings, why go? Why should we feel compelled to do something unpleasant that will cause hard feelings. My father was a magnificent human being to whom I will never be able to repay my debt. I mourn his loss daily. The rest of them are too scarred to engage on a personal level. You just can't engage people who are like that. The best you can do is leave them alone and ask that they don't bother you. If you don't enjoy spending time with your extended family, just don't go. You'll all be happier.