The Annie Update

My mom called last night to tell me that they had gone north to see Annie. She first described the three outfits she had bought for her in agonizing detail until I asked, "Mom, who does she look like?" No one. She just looks like Annie. Okay, good start. They have released Annie to come home but my sister-in-law is still in the hospital due to her blood pressure. Which my parents didn't know so they had to add an hour to their trek to see Annie. She said my brother hurt her feelings by griping that they hadn't called first to see where Annie was. So, off they go. When they got to the hospital, my sis-in-law's twin was there and her partner. My mom was upset that SIL's twin didn't remember her name so she could introduce her to her "partner." I add the inflection because that's how my mom said it. My mom is not fond of gay people. My nephews are running amok, to the point the nurse comes in and asks them to quiet down. J2 was trying to force Annie to suck her thumb to the point my mom was afraid he would dislocate her arm. Neither of his parents told him to stop. My mother is afraid Annie will be just as rough as the boys, if she survives them. I said, "that is not your problem mother. C and J choose to allow their children to be that way. And they will be the ones to pay and J1 and J2 have met their match. Not only will she be as rough as they are, she will be twice as evil because she is female." My mom finally said it was probably best that I hadn't gone. What also stands out in my mind is that my mom and dad took a ton of food up there so they could fix lunch for the family. If I'm not mistaken, they've done that when each of their children were born, but they didn't do it for me. My mom yelled at me because I hadn't cleaned the house before I had Hyper-Boy. That used to bother me but I watch how they trip over their own feet to win favor in my brother's house and keep getting slammed. Its upsetting to me but then again, they keep doing it and they rarely, if ever, tell my brother how he has hurt their feelings or whatever. I know they will make the trip north several times over the coming months. I know they will not bother to make one trip to my house, instead my mom will whine to me that I don't visit enough. I made sure when Hyper-Boy was a baby and a toddler that my parents saw him often, even if I was the only one doing the traveling. I did it for Hyper-Boy. My parents have their faults but they are good grandparents. I know that eventually my mom will make a comment that I haven't been up in a while and this is when I will tell her that she hasn't eaten a meal in my home since December of 1999. I will point out the fact that they have made numerous trips to my brother's home and have neglected to give me the same consideration. That is a mean thing to do as I really don't care if they come or not. They don't agree with the way I live my life or clean my house or because I smoke and that's their excuse as to why they don't visit. I really have no problem in making my house presentable if they would like to visit, but presentable is not good enough. It never will be for them, so I do what I'm comfortable with. All that used to really, really bother me and made me feel less than important. I let them do that to me but looking at the big picture I see once again how karmic law works. If I could impress upon anyone how many tears I have cried and how many times I have questioned why I always fell to such disfavor when I tried so hard, you would appreciate the fact that I've let that go. I will continue to facilitate a good relationship between my parents and my son because it makes me feel good for both parties. I know it is what is best. As long as my parents continue to be fair between the grandchildren, I will pick and choose the battles I fight with them over differential treatment between me and my brother. I doubt there will be very many, if any. I can stand up for myself without being cruel if the occasion calls for it, otherwise, I will bounce around in my own life and be glad in it.