Handling a tough moment

by Vicky C
(Burbank, Ca)

Picture a Christmas holiday party at a relative's beautiful home. Lots of happy guests who have just enjoyed a lovely buffet meal and are now relaxing in the spacious living room mingling with other guests, admiring the view, the decorations, the home.

In comes my wonderful mother in law with an armful of zeroxed Christmas songs which she proceeds to pass out to each and every guest (without checking with the hostess, her daughter). The guests are then told by the mom in law that we will sing these holiday songs NOW. She begins by using a pitch pipe (she taught music) and the guests manage to join in for a song or two. Slowly, then faster, the guests found it was time to leave.

The hostess was devastated and angry but held her cool until her mom left. My husband (the hostess's only brother) and I were the last ones to gather our belongings and we witnessed his sister's total breakdown, her sobs over her 'controlling mom who ruined her party' and how could she do that to my guests, and what would she say to them, etc. Tears were flowing as she went on and on remembering so many times her mom had done her wrong.

My husband waited for the perfect moment when Sue had finally paused long enough and then said to his sister (like a producer):
"Gee, Sue, that was a great reading, but don't call us, we'll call you!"

Sue broke up laughing. I'll never forget that moment. His timing was priceless.