Schedule Conflict

[bjarvis]

My extended clan have given me notice that they're hoping for a family reunion ostensibly to celebrate my grandmother's 85th birthday in 2012.

It's not easy to convey the incredible sea change this represents. My family can't plan something as trivial as dinner more than an hour in advance: for them to be looking 18 months ahead is nothing short of extraordinary. I fear my dear grandmother may not survive to her 85th for having died of a heart attack under the strain of thinking more than a week ahead.

The bad part? They've chosen the exact same dates as the Vancouver IAGSDC convention.

*sigh*

I suppose I could try spending a couple of days at one event, then flying to the other. Of course, that involves travel between the two most expensive airports in the entire Dominion of Canada, and it likely would mean a less than ideal visit at both.

Comments

[madknits.livejournal.com]

No way you can get them to change the date? It isn't like it's going to happen next month or anything.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

It's the first time they've ever tried planning like this so I'm really loathe to criticize this major breakthrough in any way. In fact, I feel like I should be rewarding them each with food pellets or something to demonstrate to them in a method they'd understand they've done a Good Thing.

The dates were chosen largely for the same reason as the IAGSDC convention committee: the July 1 weekend is a major Canadian holiday so folks will have time to travel, the kids will be out of school, etc.. I'd be happiest if they punted it to the long weekend in August but there may be other constraints not communicated to me.

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, Dominion Day Canada Day!

So much more fun the the Fourth of July.

Well, good luck. And do the food pellets include chocolate?

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

And do the food pellets include chocolate?

Hell, no! No way I'm wasting the good stuff on them! :-)

[canadad.livejournal.com]

Don't count on it yet. Family reunion planning is major, depending on the size. My mom's side does it every 3 years or so and my siblings and I took care of the last one as it was their 50th wedding anniversary as well.

There was supposed to be another last year, but the cousin who begged to be in charge of it couldn't get her act together in time.

Still might not happen or the date may change.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I'm entertaining some faint hope there will be a change in schedule.

I'm also considering making inquiries about where they're planning to host the event and seeing if I can have a friend book the hall to force a shift the dates. :-)

[trawnapanda.livejournal.com]

don't "entertain faint hopes" - that way you're relying on them to rely on telepathy, or on the alignment of the stars to favour you.

If you want to go, then say to all of them, "I have a commitment for that weekend. Could it be moved to the August long holiday weekend, please?"

You're setting yourself up to be a) disappointed and b) hugely inconvenienced by not speaking up. It's 20 months in the future, no plane tickets or dining halls will have been booked yet.

please, speak up. it's the only way the planners can possibly know that you'd prefer another weekend.

[furmuslbulk.livejournal.com]

How important is the other event? is it an annual thing?

It's amazing how young your ancesters are! My father will be 83 in 2012! His mother would have been 113 that year. My youngest grandparent would have been 107 that year.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Lessee... Mom turns 65 next Monday, Dad 69 next January and my surviving grandparent (Mom's mom) will be 84 in April.

I'm 43, the 2nd of 6 kids. "1 of 6" is 45 currently; "6 of 6" is 32.

My Dad's parents, were they still with us, would be 108 and 110 this year.

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

I understand that you're bummed about missing the IAGSDC convention, but that will happen again in 2013. Your Grandmother will only be 85 once, and not to sound maudlin, a lot of people don't make it that far. But it sounds like the event isn't on her actual birthday. If that's so, start vigorously twisting arms now!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, no question I'll attend Grandma's event. Her birthday is actually in April but the Canada Day weekend is easier for the extended family & kids to travel.

Let the diplomatic arm-twisting begin!

[scdancetx2.livejournal.com]

A fun compromise would be to visit granny during her bday time - that way you have done the respectful thing for family. That makes your convention available for you.

I have found that for family or dancing that family will go its just dancing but we are family.