My ex-wife has a big family, she was one of 5 as were both her parents. At Christmas dos we'd have about forty to fifty people all related in some way. Every single year some barney or other would spark off, then they wouldn't talk to each other until they met at the next one. Then it would start all over again. Mad.
Alcohol tends to amplify people's personalities. Fun people become more fun. Nasty people get more nasty. You see someone's true self, without all the conscious filters when they're drunk.
Everyone gets almost bipolar at Xmas. Capable of great kindness and evil bitchiness at the flip of a hat.
In vino veritas, yeah. I always think it's a bit more complicated than that though. My Dad had drink problems - it made him nasty, but I honestly don't think now that he was a nasty bloke. He'd had some real misfortune (not just having me, before anyone says it) and I think the drink just revealed a deep-seated frustration within him. I was too young, and probably too self centred, to understand that at the time.
Not that I've been drunk in many years , but I tend to be an extremely ridiculous drunk. "Silly" must be my dominant trait once all the filters are removed. I usually present myself as the sagacious balanced fellow you all know but if I'm drunk that facade just crumbles away.
Have a great holiday. May father Christmas unload his sack with great aplomb under your tree and your family be happy and peaceful. Or not so peaceful if you prefer. Give the unit a kiss from me too.
