mother said the whole family would be there! and the whole other family we "celebrate" with would be there! and my parents' best friend from college and his girlfriend, neither of which i had met, would be there, and my mom really really wanted the whole family to be together and for me to meet the friends!!! yay!!!
turns out, my brother didn't get off work (which means his totally awesome girlfriend, who is also my totally awesome friend wouldn't be in attendance), my creepy uncle chose to spend the evening by himself (no loss really, but i had been telling jackie how creepy he was and i think a part of me wanted her to experience the weirdness for herself, but alas, another time...), their daughter didn't get off work, and i have met her friend, paul, and his girlfriend, fran, NUMEROUS TIMES. a ton! A SHIT TON. a lot!
thusly, dinner was me, jackie, my parents, paul and fran, and lynn and cliff from the other family.
i am the only jew jackie, a product of private catholic schooling and a right wing family, knows. so, naturally, everything was a little awkward. but i introduced her to matzo ball soup and maneschewitz wine so all was well.
i wore short sleeves by the way. remember this?? my parents had yet to see it. i was hiding it very well. but on this night, which is unlike other nights (joke for all y'all jews out there!!), i wore short sleeves.
and i showed it to my parents.
"here is my tattoo!"
WTF!!!Q!!!@#$#$WERASSE#WS#@#%R$%#T^U

in a panic - or maybe, MAYBE, in a moment of brilliance [read: another WORST FUCKING IDEA] -
i told them it was a new form of temporary tattooing! and it would be off within TWO WEEKS.
did i mention i am moving back into my parents' house in SIX WEEKS.
oh goodness!!!!!!
lord help us all!!!
and yes - that is a real picture of my father!!!