21:50
Sunday
This should be a quick post (aiming to go to bed before midnight!!!) but I might ramble on longer than I intend. lol Let's see...!
We got back from a Sunday get together with the family at Omi B almost half an hour ago. It was a belated observation of B's dear departed husband, P's father's birthday; it is a tradition they observe, and also a good occasion to get together. As always it was . . .hmmm, it can't be encompassed in one word, so please allow me to use the Dutch word:gezellig!
Yes, it is the only word to describe how it is to be with P's family.
They are uncomplicated, funny, intelligent (multi-lingual!), caring, thoughtful people, who - to borrow Heggies words - leaves you with warm fuzzies every time you spend time with them. You truly ook forward to have their company.
They all enjoy good wine (which most of the time comes from the vineyard of their long time family friend in Alsace - a story worth telling in another time!), food, exchanging news, stories, jokes - simple fun! So much to tell by so many people in one gathering that often times they get told simultaneously in little groups but somehow, someway you can take everything in, and whichever way you turn your head, you can find yourself involved in an interesting, funny conversation.
Periodically, everyone will all together look in the middle because the littlest has done or said something funny, so again we laugh collectively. The teen-agers of the family were naturally "armed" with their gadgets because how else can you survive non-stop adult chatter! lol What I like about all our kids though is they each get a chance to speak and be listened to, and get the feeling of being acknowledge as part of the gathering. At the same time they don't feel the pressure of needing to say anything, it's all very natural.
We all like being at Omi B! :)
P put littlest to bed, and normally he joins me shortly but he might have already fallen asleep himself, that is why I can't ask him at this very moment about the music I shared below, which I happened to just stumbled upon. It is the only one I searched that will give you an idea how gezellig sounds. I gather he was/is cult here in the Netherlands, and I find it funny! :D Tomorrow, I'll try to find out more.
G'night!
22.27
Next time when I am not too sleepy, I'll write more in details to give you a better feeling of the atmosphere I enjoy, and feel relaxed in. I feel this sentimental about it because of my past, when I dreaded gatherings like this, and feel claustraphobic just thinking about how it was - long story!
So, I am VERY grateful, that without me expecting anything when I got involved with P, I received an extended family I wished for.