Chapter 5b What They Don't Tell You

What they don’t tell you about being a member of my family is that we are just like the characters on “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. Everyone is in each other’s business and lives. The whole family knows what you are doing within hours of telling one person. Your cousins’ kids are your nieces and nephews and you are expected to be a good role model for them. You are expected to help when something needs done, a house needs sided, a wedding planned, or a tree cleared. You are expected to ask for help when you need it. I moved from 2 houses to an apartment and it took all of 4 hours to load haul and unpack just about everything. However, I am an exception. I had everything packed and most of it on the main floor. I have helped paint more houses than I could possibly ever own, I have ripped up carpet and torn down walls. I am much better at destruction than construction, and everyone knows that. Once the kids started coming, I became the babysitter. I loved it, I got to play while they worked. Not that it is easy, running herd on half a dozen kids will drive you insane. No matter what you are doing, there is always someone to help you with it. While we don't roast lamb, the rest of this quote really applies, "My family is big and loud but they're my family. We fight and we laugh and yes, we roast lamb on a spit in the front yard. And where ever I go, what ever I do they will always be there."