I have journeyed forth and returned. Safely ensconced in my liberal home, I draw a deep breadth. I have survived Christmas With My Repug Relatives for the XVIIIth time.
I want to hear your Repug Family Christmas survival story. Mine starts below with a surprising ending...
It was the day before Christmas and all was a’ thither. My wife and I had our obligatory Christmas why-are-we-visiting-your-family-again argument and I started self-medicating. I know this prescription is not recommended when one is about to drive, but understand when we arrive at my in-laws they will have hours of head start on me. Plus our cyber green VW bug with the Obama and The Best Things in Life Aren't Things stickers always stirs up the locals.
As we walked in the door my sister's brother, Joe, introduced me to his latest find, Miller Steel Reserve 8.6 alcohol beer in 40oz. bottels. A beer later he was proudly showing me his son Jacob's concealed weapons permit accompanied by a detailed description of his firearm collection. Jacob, age 28 mind you, added that he shot off all his guns regularly, especially automatic rifles for the exploding gofer and crow effect. He followed with a detailed description of how prepared he was for whatever came his way including soon the day of God's reckoning.
Over dinner the family launched into the Obama jokes and how he had insulted their Christianity, country, place of work, family values, wars against evildoers, FOX news, etc. I started to argue (h/t clammyc and others at DKos), pointing out the plain facts, but no one was hearing any of my silly liberal "opinions". I shut up and drank.
After dinner more drinks, and with my wife's mother quizzing the grandchildren on their new study Bibles in the other room, a surprising thing sparked me from my stupor.
Turns out three of five of my relatives are out of work just like me. Turns out they don't have health insurance either. And just like that we found common ground. Struggling against the system, trying to keep a roof over our heads, keep families fed, pay medical bills, hoping our kids do okay. I found my Progressive voice in this common ground. No it wasn't Obama vs. them. It was talking about our problems and listening to how we dealt, how we each found ways to survive. It felt good to speak about how San Francisco offers a public option, no deductables, health care plan for my family of four for $240/qtr. They all wanted to join in! We all agreed that the public option was good and that the extension of unemployment benefits was really helping out. I found, myself smiling as I went to sleep that night.
The next morning we opened some presents and had a group prayer for overcoming our problems. Repugs, liberals, kids, all of us just praying to whatever God/Goddess/Other we needed to. Did it make a difference? Shit, I don't know. I just know we human beings were together trying to make ends meet and it felt good to know you weren't alone.
Best Christmas present I have had in a long time. Thanks for stopping by.