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maeve_rigan
1. Who's the oldest living member of your family?
It depends on what you mean by family, of course--in my immediate family, it's my husband at 66 (or my ex at 68, again depending); I've also got an 85 year old second cousin, and he has his brother's ex-wife, who's in late 70's. And then I have a couple of first cousins whom I never see, but know they're three years older than me.
2. Who's the youngest?
There are some babies in my ex's sister's family, and one cousin (again, rarely seen) has some little ones, but closer to home, the youngest is my 28-year-old nephew.
3. If you could spend a two-week vacation with one family member, who would it be? Why?
I just did this with my sister, and it was great. Also a week with my younger son, likewise excellent. My favorite travel companion is my older son, though--he's definitely the pleasantest company in the family, I think all agree. He's very adventurous, likes to eat well but willing to try all kinds of odd things, very even-tempered, and like me, likes to escape into a book for part of each day. he never sulks or gets tired before I do or gets mad when things don't work out perfectly. Of course, the best ones are the ones we had a hand in making.
4. The old saying goes, "you can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family." if you could choose one of your friends, who would you 'elect' to become a member of your family? Why?
I've actually sort of done this--I don't have any grandkids or any prospects, so I've hooked on as a sort of aunt or something to the two little girls my friend adopted, and that of course gives me her and her husband, too. It's very interesting because we have some real differences, but are very similar in being open to people who are different from us. We just spent a week at the beach together, and for me at least, it wasn't long enough (and that was a week with a 2 year old and a 4 year old--but I was ready for some solitude at the end!)
5. Who in your family can you just NOT stand? Why?
I like them all, though at various times one of my cousins has distanced herself from my part of the family--I'm not sure why. But I like her
6. Do you have any famous family members?
Well, all southern families can usually manage some kind of link. In my case, a guy who's famous here for opposing Secession (we go back aways for this), a state legislator whose name was James Louis Pettigru. He famously said that "South Carolina is too small to be a republic and too large to be an insane asylum." Of course, time has proved him wrong about the last part of that.
7. Do you have a family member that you've lost contact with? who are they, and why do you not currently have contact?
Yes, several first cousins. The two guys on my father's side I just never knew well and neither they nor I put forth enough effort to stay in touch. I could find them if I tried, and I should. My first cousin on my mother's side is a big loss because we were very close as children. When I called to tell her my mother had died, she said she was sorry, but she was busy the day of the funeral, and she never sent a card or called again. When her son died, my sister and I saw the notice in the paper and went to the visitation. She seemed delighted to see us, but gave us only her email and never replies when we send her messages, though sometimes she sends my sister an e-card. Weird. We have no idea why this is.
maeve_rigan1. Who's the oldest living member of your family?
It depends on what you mean by family, of course--in my immediate family, it's my husband at 66 (or my ex at 68, again depending); I've also got an 85 year old second cousin, and he has his brother's ex-wife, who's in late 70's. And then I have a couple of first cousins whom I never see, but know they're three years older than me.
2. Who's the youngest?
There are some babies in my ex's sister's family, and one cousin (again, rarely seen) has some little ones, but closer to home, the youngest is my 28-year-old nephew.
3. If you could spend a two-week vacation with one family member, who would it be? Why?
I just did this with my sister, and it was great. Also a week with my younger son, likewise excellent. My favorite travel companion is my older son, though--he's definitely the pleasantest company in the family, I think all agree. He's very adventurous, likes to eat well but willing to try all kinds of odd things, very even-tempered, and like me, likes to escape into a book for part of each day. he never sulks or gets tired before I do or gets mad when things don't work out perfectly. Of course, the best ones are the ones we had a hand in making.
4. The old saying goes, "you can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family." if you could choose one of your friends, who would you 'elect' to become a member of your family? Why?
I've actually sort of done this--I don't have any grandkids or any prospects, so I've hooked on as a sort of aunt or something to the two little girls my friend adopted, and that of course gives me her and her husband, too. It's very interesting because we have some real differences, but are very similar in being open to people who are different from us. We just spent a week at the beach together, and for me at least, it wasn't long enough (and that was a week with a 2 year old and a 4 year old--but I was ready for some solitude at the end!)
5. Who in your family can you just NOT stand? Why?
I like them all, though at various times one of my cousins has distanced herself from my part of the family--I'm not sure why. But I like her
6. Do you have any famous family members?
Well, all southern families can usually manage some kind of link. In my case, a guy who's famous here for opposing Secession (we go back aways for this), a state legislator whose name was James Louis Pettigru. He famously said that "South Carolina is too small to be a republic and too large to be an insane asylum." Of course, time has proved him wrong about the last part of that.
7. Do you have a family member that you've lost contact with? who are they, and why do you not currently have contact?
Yes, several first cousins. The two guys on my father's side I just never knew well and neither they nor I put forth enough effort to stay in touch. I could find them if I tried, and I should. My first cousin on my mother's side is a big loss because we were very close as children. When I called to tell her my mother had died, she said she was sorry, but she was busy the day of the funeral, and she never sent a card or called again. When her son died, my sister and I saw the notice in the paper and went to the visitation. She seemed delighted to see us, but gave us only her email and never replies when we send her messages, though sometimes she sends my sister an e-card. Weird. We have no idea why this is.