Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
CHILDREN RUNNING through grandma's living room, the radio being played louder than usual, extra wet towels in the bathroom, late night conversations, overindulgent aunts and uncles ... the list could go on.
For these and other reasons, I do not always enjoy having my relatives around at Christmas. Already, my aunt, who came from England about three weeks ago, has criticised my housekeeping methods. She says my late father would not approve of them.
But I love Christmas - the fruit cake, sorrel being laced with Red Label wine, flashy, colourful pepper lights, going to church and, of course, the melodious Christmas carols.
My grandmother is usually ecstatic when the family comes. All of her seven children, grandchildren and almost all her great grandchildren reside overseas, so she revels in seeing her 'generation' around her.
"Oh, come and tell me about life at law school," grandma often says. Or, "Are you driving me to church on Sunday?" she often asks one of my uncles.
PURE TORTURE
Yet, for me, it's a torture. Yes, I do love the gifts. Everyone who comes brings a gift, often something valuable from the United Kingdom or the United States, but the questions from my aunts and uncles as to what I have achieved in the past year, why I haven't done this yet or why I only call grandma once a week can be for me like a bullet straight into the heart, igniting an instant migraine.
The worst part too, is that Christmas visitors seem to take over the house. They want to do the cleaning, they quarrel and challenge each other in the kitchen over who makes the best vegetable salad or turkey gravy and the kitchen is transformed into a scene out of 'Soul Food'.
Outside of gift sharing, the best part of Christmas with my family is time spent with my uncles. Yes, they question my boyfriend cruelly, but they are the only ones who love me for who I am, take me on trips to the resorts and beaches of Jamaica - and of course, they give me cash.
This Christmas I'll ignore the disparaging comments, the overcrowded living room with no available seat and best of all, I will savour the fact in spite of their faults, I've lived to celebrate another Christmas with my family.
