well when i was growing up, people visiting other branches of their families for major holidays was something i only read about in storybooks, and the 'war stories' kids told each other in school. i wish a lot more people would that "random thoughts" more literally. would be a whole lot more interesting if they did. which i sort of though once upon a time was the whole point. which is actually, lately, its been a lot better around here then it was for a long while.