Yes, it's that time of year again when you have to see your family. Let's just say that It's bad enough having to deliver Christmas presents in most instances, the unconfortable silences and longing to leave, but feeling obliged to stay a little longer so that it's not obvious you really want to leave, even though it can't be hidden. For some people it gets worse, having your family around for lunch on Christmas day. Oh the joy, their miserable faces, their endless detestation of everything in life which could be enjoyable.
New Year isn't any better, all that false sincerity, people wishing each other "Happy New Year", when they secretly wish that you had the Black Death. Getting together with your family, people getting drunk and starting to let out their true feelings, which are certain to be of the hateful, jealous, obnoxious and distasteful sort. Yes, this truly is the nicest time of the year. As the saying goes "You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family!" Never was a truer word spoken, and the author knew only too well what an embarassment family can be, particularly at this time of year.
There are 2 particular traits I find irritating in the extreme when exemplified by family members. They are competitiveness and boastfulness, both of which seem evident in profusion. "Keeping up with the Joneses" as they say, is a particular hobby in these parts. Of course, after 4 consecutive years at College and Uni, I am unable to play along with the game, not that I would if I could anyhow, but because I can't, it would appear that there is all the more reason why I should know what people are buying and where they're going on holiday. They think it hurts me, but they're fools, I'm made of much stronger stuff than them. I'm immune to their pettiness. I'd be quite happy to see the back of the lot of then for good, and look forward to the day when that becomes possible.
