Happy Birthday Grandpa Nix!

I'm an admitted complainer and one of the biggest problems I have is complaining before something has occurred.

Example: Someone says, "Let's go eat at this restaurant" and I complain the whole way there saying that I'm not hungry for food like that and I'd rather be at home.

I could relate many stories of me doing this, but it happened tonight. It's my Grandfather's 81st birthday today and there is a party for him tonight at 7pm at my Aunt Mary's house. I wanted to go and asked Brian earlier in the week if he would go with me. "Maybe," he answered.

I asked him about it today and he said that he'd go until 8pm because he wanted to invite Scott and Megan over for dinner (but especially Scott since he recently broke up). I complained and admittedly threw a girly hissy fit because I wanted to stay longer than an hour. Plus, I said, you really don't even want to go and I'd rather not have you there if you don't want to go. Realizing the contention that was brewing between us, I slowed down and rationally thought about the situation. I apologized to Brian and said that I really would love for him to go with me and we could leave the party at 8pm.

When I got to the party, we helped decorate because we were early. When 8pm rolled around, I was bored and told Brian that we could leave. I wish I hadn't complained because everything worked out fine (as it usually does). I really need to work on not complaining before the fact.

Before we left, though, Mary made everyone sing this awful song called "Count your Many Wrinkles" that was sung to the Mormon tune, "Count your Many Blessings." While it was awful, I had a really fun time singing it and being obnoxious about it. We left soon after that.

But on the way to Mary's house, I realized two things that I never knew about Brian and I.

First, Brian said that my family is kind of "crazy" like me and it's a little much for him at times. He compared my family to his Aunt Janet: she's the craziest person on Brian's side of the family and my favorite aunt on his side of the family. Brian said the reason I like her so much is because she's a lot like my side of the family...and he's completely right. Most families aren't big and crazy and close like mine is.

Secondly, we talked about priorities in life and I said that family will always be the number one priority for me (that's why I attend every family event I can). He said that work will probably be his top priority. Brian didn't have a family life like I did; I had a great time with my family while Brian had to deal with a single mother who picked all the wrong men to date (except her current husband). Someday, I hope that family will become a bigger priority for him.