This is rather important to me, as I want to set myself apart. On my dad’s side of the family there’s a rather troubling intermarriage relationship I haven’t quite figured out. I think it’s a father-daughter, but it’s so convoluted and circular, it’s hard to say. I’m not even sure if they’re my ancestors as I’ve never been able to find my great-grandfather’s birth certificate. Nevermind, if they are related, it was the early 1800s, and they were from parts of Virginia that may be West Virginia now, and it was just what was expected of them. Thankfully, I’m not procreating anyway, Barukh sheim k’vod malkhuto l’olam va’ed.

The size of my mom’s family may be a slight exaggeration, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that there have been many family reunions where blood-related family members had to introduce themselves to one another. Weddings are expensive ordeals unless you want to snub some of the family, which comes with its own consequences. We are a prolific bunch. To wit, one of my cousins has children who are almost exactly one year apart. All it takes for us to get pregnant is to utter the word, “pregnant.” (Excuse me for a minute while I go swallow a couple of extra birth control pills.)

…

Okay, I’m back.

I guess with a family the size of ours, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we have a few birthdays that fall on holidays, quite a few Halloween babies, Christmas, Christmas Eve, and even today, the 29th of February. I missed the opportunity earlier this year to wish several of my aunts a happy birthday, and they actually read my blog, so I owe them many, many apologies. It’s not that I favor my uncle, it’s just that I don’t feel like working and wishing my uncle a happy birthday is a perfect excuse for a distraction.

Happy 13th Birthday Uncle Ricky! Incidentally, I’ve decided to start a revolution to name today, the 29th of February, “Leap Day.” Why doesn’t it have a special name already?

On a totally unrelated note, the Orioles are winning so far. It won’t be for long so I wanted to seize the opportunity to say the word “win” in the same sentence with “Orioles” while I could.

Have a fabulous, happy Friday!