We ended up leaving my folks to stay in a hotel Friday night about nine-thirty. I suppose I could have headed the whole thing off with a bit of frank, honest conversation earlier in the day, but between trying to “let things slide off me” as Rob suggested and Mom’s bouts of tears and self-pity, I just couldn’t find the right moment.

The tipping point was Nephew and BioDad, but it could have just as easily been the exchange between my parents at supper when Mom, descrying once again her misfortune of an ailing spouse said,

“I suppose I should quit my job. After all you are my first priority.”

To which my father replied with a very hearty chuckle because it is just simply not true.

Rob sat silently next to Mom with his gaze on the table but his mind elsewhere and I don’t have to wonder what he was thinking because I was thinking it too.

I am tired of being a party to their issues with each other. Married for nearly 52 years and lucky as hell to have probably months left with which to talk and share and maybe heal some of the damage they have done to each other – they are pissing away time. Time that Will never got. Time that Shelley didn’t get either.

I excused myself to go for a run, hoping to sweat away some of the bad vibes and dark thoughts but returned to more of what passes as interaction in my family, and by the time Nephew showed up and began to issue orders, I was fed up.

There were tears and harsh words and I am certain they expected me to meekly toe the family line, but when Rob suggested a hotel – that was all I needed. So we left.

DNOS was informed via phone of what transpired because I didn’t want her walking in blind tomorrow when she goes to the folks to finish preparing for the family reunion. We would skip it and just head to Des Moines if not for the fact that we’ve arranged a tiny birthday celebration for Katy as a part of the gathering. There will be a pinata and cake and I can’t let her be disappointed just because I am having trouble following the motto of my family, “appease or deny – the truth can just stay out there somewhere.”

I am dreading the reunion. Neither of my parents are good at letting things go (small wonder that this is a major failing of mine) and though I am fairly certain they will not cause a scene in front of extended family, they will both let me have it at the earliest opportunity.

I am a bit tired of them and their games.