On Christmas Eve at around, oh 12:30pm ish the phone rang and I saw Uncle Dan's name on the caller ID. I picked up immediately, because Uncle Dan is on my OK to answer list and because I assumed he was calling to confirm that MDH and I were still coming to spend Christmas Day with him and Aunt P. I had my coat on and my car keys in hand, as I was just on my way out the door to buy some last minute items to take with us.
Me: Hey Uncle Dan! What's up?
Me: Hey Uncle Dan! What's up?
UD: Hi Darlin'! Where are you?
Me: Oh, you know I was just on my way out the door to get some stuff to bring with us when we come see you tomorrow.
UD: Well we thought you was a comin' today. We been awaitin' for y'all.
Me: What? Oh shit! Uncle Dan I thought you invited us for tomorrow!
UD: No. It was today. We been awaitin', wonderin' where you're at.
Yes. I know from experience exactly what this means. He has been in his coat, sitting in a lawn chair in the driveway in the freezing cold. He waits outside with the garage door open in all weather. I try never to be late.
I blathered apologies while he chuckled and insisted it was all right and that we should come tomorrow at the same planned time, which was 10:30am by the way.
I think back to 2 days previous when I had called Aunt P to confirm that we were coming and double check the day and time. She wasn't home so I had confirmed with Uncle Dan instead. I distinctly remember saying "See you Christmas Day!", before hanging up.
Uncle Dan is 83 and very hard of hearing.
I should've known better than to confirm with Uncle Dan.
I should've called back and talked to Aunt P.
In my family you should always talk to the wife. The wives in my family are always in charge of the festivities and seem to have no hearing problems. My father, Uncle Dan and all their other brothers are deaf as fucking door nails, refuse to get hearing aids, and they all agree to everything because they can't fucking hear a word you are saying to them on the phone.
Above is a picture of me in better days, when my father and all his brothers could still hear and I wasn't in charge of anything or keeping any one waiting outside in the freezing cold. (Did anyone else have a "Mrs. Beasley" dress?)
Me: Oh, you know I was just on my way out the door to get some stuff to bring with us when we come see you tomorrow.
UD: Well we thought you was a comin' today. We been awaitin' for y'all.
Me: What? Oh shit! Uncle Dan I thought you invited us for tomorrow!
UD: No. It was today. We been awaitin', wonderin' where you're at.
Yes. I know from experience exactly what this means. He has been in his coat, sitting in a lawn chair in the driveway in the freezing cold. He waits outside with the garage door open in all weather. I try never to be late.
I blathered apologies while he chuckled and insisted it was all right and that we should come tomorrow at the same planned time, which was 10:30am by the way.
I think back to 2 days previous when I had called Aunt P to confirm that we were coming and double check the day and time. She wasn't home so I had confirmed with Uncle Dan instead. I distinctly remember saying "See you Christmas Day!", before hanging up.
Uncle Dan is 83 and very hard of hearing.
I should've known better than to confirm with Uncle Dan.
I should've called back and talked to Aunt P.
In my family you should always talk to the wife. The wives in my family are always in charge of the festivities and seem to have no hearing problems. My father, Uncle Dan and all their other brothers are deaf as fucking door nails, refuse to get hearing aids, and they all agree to everything because they can't fucking hear a word you are saying to them on the phone.
Above is a picture of me in better days, when my father and all his brothers could still hear and I wasn't in charge of anything or keeping any one waiting outside in the freezing cold. (Did anyone else have a "Mrs. Beasley" dress?)
