The Pauls Women

Last night I went to my aunt's cabin on the lake close to where I grew up as a young girl to meet for "appys and drinks" with "the Pauls' women". It was an interesting evening for me as I moved away with my parents and brother from the family farm and all the extended family when I was 8 years old. So although there is some commonality there's quite a bit of diversion that's happened in our life paths over the years.
The cottage was absolutely beautiful, right on the lake although I hear that my aunt and uncle are going to tear it down to build something new (the top floor is bigger than my apartment). We all sat out on the deck, my 3 aunts and my 3 cousins-in-law and my Oma. My Oma and I probaby had the most in common save my one aunt who now thinks that I am exponentially more interesting now that I'm going to be a doctor. My cousins-in-law all married my male cousins who are farmers and have proven fertile many times over except the one who looks like she would have a baby as soon as possible (she only married my cousin in January). All of these women have very different lives and very different relationships than Foreman and I have. Not that that's a bad thing it just is such a foreign environment for me to be in: talking about kids and farming and shopping and church missions. It was nice to reconnect with them and we definitely have a bond as family (that was readily apparent) but I did call my mom this morning and thanked her again for moving us out of Greendale. I think my spirit would have suffered greatly had I been forced into that mould which I quite obviously do not fit.
(Little Samara with her tante's Smirnoff Ice bottle. You get one Irish guy in the family and suddenly...)