Blog #19: Family Video Calls

I’m pretty sure my family is the weirdest around. Like… most every family is weird in their own way, but mine is on some next level weirdness. I just spent the better part of an hour video calling my mom, sister Mariel, and brother Jolson, and let me tell you… it was interesting.

Legitimate substantial conversation probably constituted 10% of the actual call. The rest was just pure, unadulterated antics. From ridiculous faces, noises, and filters, to the weird stuff Mom says, there was never a dull moment. For everyone’s entertainment, here are just a few of the things my Mom said, with no context provided:

“Hey Mariel, guess what, you’re just showing us your chin!”

“Technology is just freaking amazing.”

“Hey Jolson, just for your information, you have strep throat.”

“Does this look like a butt?”

“Jolson why do you have to be so freaking disgusting?”

Even if it doesn’t sound like it, all of these came from a place of love, which is one of the things I love best about my family— we love and care for each other deeply, but we don’t let that stop us from calling each other out or being mean to one another. When my brother calls me b*tch, it’s actually an affectionate nickname, and his way of showing he cares about me. My mom has called me a dork more times than I can count, which just means that I make her laugh. These weird displays of affection are perhaps the most entertaining things I have encountered in my entire life, as we’re all just a bunch of weirdos calling each other out and trying to make each other laugh.

I miss the fam a lot, but I wouldn’t have things any other way. At least here in India, I get the pleasure of a 1am video call that keeps me laughing for 45 minutes straight. Technology, along with my family, is just freaking amazing.

"Jolson why do you have to be so freaking disgusting?"