Last weekend, I ran to the grocery store with my Mom to pick up a few things. We were ready to make a quick run through the store...until we ran in to my Mom's cousin. AKA Debbie Downer. And that meant a very long, very depressing conversation was inevitable.
Though we're close with the rest of our family, we've never been very close to my Mom's cousins We know them well enough, but probably only see them every few years. In this case, it has been a couple years since any of us have caught up. And the thing is, Debbie has quite the reputation for dropping the most tragic, depressing, heart-wrenching drama bombs every time you talk to her. Everything is just sad, sad, sad. And this time was no exception.
It started off light with "how are yous" and a quick comment about her daughter getting into the college of her choice. And then BAM! twenty (yes twenty) long minutes of everything that has gone wrong over the last couple of years...
After hearing in detail about crystal meth addictions, abused children injuries, guns, accidents, witness protection stints, hospital trips and arrests, we thought it was over.
But wait, that was only about ONE person in her life. Let's not forget the bouts with cancer, more addiction, oxygen tanks, homelessness, etc affecting the rest of her relatives.
It's horrible, it really is. She has had so much sadness and tragedy in her family and we're there to support her. But really? In the grocery store? We were standing next to the little smiley lamb cakes for goodness sakes. There is a time and a place for those conversations and the bakery section of the grocery store certainly isn't it. As she was talking, people kept walking by and you could tell by their shocked faces that they definitely overheard her story. I nearly laughed...but I'm not completely heartless, so I didn't.
It was nice to see her and catch up. But after we said goodbye, my Mom and I both looked at each other, said a silent "Oh my God" and walked away very quickly. It kind of put a damper on our excited Easter moods. Thanks Debbie!
