Two Families, Two Reactions

[primsong]

Situation: Son-in-Law gets back from Boot Camp.

His family: Long, nobly worded paragraphs posted about how proud they are of him, how he has grown to be A Man, etc (insert Hallmark card sentiments here). Photos of flags against the sun, military men lined up in crisp lines.

Our family: *weird hooting noises and kermit-flailing* *memes* *chasing each other around the room wielding spatulas in excitement* *impromptu group dance*

Comments

[archersangel]

Sorry if this is too personal, but are you getting along with the in-laws?

[primsong]

Yeah, I think we'll be okay - they're nice people, honest and helpful and they do care about their kids. It's just an interesting contrast between our households because they're so 'typical mainstream middle-class'... the type that decorate with what you see in the big box stores and discuss whatever the talking heads on the tv had to say for the day. They're little older than us so they're firmly in the "Boomer culture" but believe they are edgy because they own motorcycles.

Our household has a quirkier humor, with obscure anime and Brit shows, etymology & artsy stuff, fandoms & fanfic. Less likely to sit quietly and nod over an Italian dinner with the book-of-the-month-club - more likely to be dancing to world music in the kitchen while experimenting with ingredients we can't pronounce.

So essentially we don't mind spending a day with them at all, but would go crazy if we had to live there - and they seem to like us well enough but look at us with baffled and confused expressions rather often.