descendants

My grandfather, in his 97 years of life, had two wives, five children, 34 grandchildren, and over 30 great grandchildren. That doesn't include in-laws either. If I were to make a family tree of his descendants, it would have to be at least 50 across to include everyone.

This holiday down here has been too good. I have seen cousins I haven't seen since I was a baby and met some I have only heard of and now can put a face too. Practically everyone came in. My aunt from Texas and her whole family, and any miscellaneous cousins from California. My family being there completed the circle. I will put up a picture of most of soon enough, when I get home. It's "boo koo crazy" as my ghetto cousins like to say.

The funeral was a little intense. In Vietnamese culture, we all wear headbands to show we are family in mourning. The sons and daughters wear off-white bands and are dressed in off white dresses (they are just throwovers, really). The sons and daughters in law wear white bands and are dressed in white dresses as well. The grandchildren wear white head bands as well and our family decided to wear white shirts and black pants. The great grandchildren wear maize/yellow head bands. And if there are great great grandchildren, they wear red, and great great great grandchildren wear purple. It was intense. The children mourn and cry and wail and it's very hard to not cry as well. It's very hard to watch my mother cry. I can't imagine how hard it is to lose both parents in one year. May my grandfather and grandmother both rest in peace.

Last note: it is ridiculously cold in New Orleans. Not as cold as up north but there was a little snow falling as we were burying my grandfather. Chilled us all to the bone. What a way to go out.

May all your Christmas be merry and safe. Keep warm, and stay jolly. :-)