Out-Laws Rule

I love my out-laws.
Let me back up, I need to give props where props are due. My dear friend Gillies (we have taken the locker room approach and call each other by our last names) is the one who coined the term "out-laws" when referring to her Scottish in-laws. It is really a term of endearment and means no disrespect. On the street, you earn your nickname and then get jumped in. It is pretty rare that I get to use a gang reference anymore and I no longer require you to take any punches to roll with me. Nowadays folks can earn a nickname worth blogging about simply by being themselves. Thence the Beale Clan became my "out-laws" and I became a big fat copycat.
There are so many reasons why the Beale Family have won my heart. First and foremost for raising a son who miraculously took me for a wife. No small feat accomplished there. Secondly for having a great sense of humor and being able to laugh at themselves. Humor is a huge part of my own family dynamic and it is how I choose to deal with many aspects of my life. I am not sure I could handle having stuffy in-laws where I felt I had to pretend to be someone I am not. The Beales let it all hang out. Our Mothers Day dinner last night was no exception. I was feeling a little low and missing my Ma on this special day. It is always hard for me to be away from my family on holidays and I was trying not to let it get me down. We had decided to have dinner at our new favorite spot, PF Changs, to celebrate Mom Beale. The atmosphere is relaxed, service is super, and the food is excellent. We are all able to order different entrees and then share them. I have found sharing food generally promotes good conversation. These are three statements that our waiter could have easily and most likely overheard during the course of our meal:
1. I saw Clay Aiken on top of a horse today.
2. Sir, you can't just have your wiener hanging out here
3. The ground moved and I went tumbling ass over teakettle with a fire extinguisher in my hands
When I woke up this morning my sides actually hurt from laughing. Maybe I did get "jumped into" the family after all.