My father and I went to Chattanooga, TN for Thanksgiving. My siblings couldn't go because they had to work today. One of my father's uncles lives in Chattanooga. The rest of my father's family on his mother's side live all over Tennessee. We're the odd ones out living in Georgia. This Thanksgiving was going to be a hard one for all of us. We figured my father should spend a couple of hours with his family. In a way, this side of the family is the only side of the family I'm closest to of all the family I have. So Wednesday night, we drove up to Chattanooga, and stayed 2 days there at a hotel. We came home tonight.
Thanksgiving was interesting. Most of my family members there were my dad's aunts and uncles, his cousins, and my second cousins many years younger than me. I think I have 3 second cousins about my age. Only one, Jessica, came to the dinner. I spoke to her a bit. However, all my second cousins know each other well, so I was the oddball out. I have no clue how many second cousins I do have. I did find out one of the girls is a University of Tennessee cheerleader. And then family laugh when I explained the only thing I remember for my Tech orientation is "To hell with Georgia!" My first cousin, Melissa, and my uncle Rusty showed up, so we weren't the only Lattas at the dinner. I mainly hung out with my dad, Melissa, and Rusty. They were the ones I felt most comfortable with. Sadly, this is what happens when you don't live near extended family.
However, I think I did find a senior project! One of my dad's cousins makes and sells soap. She wants a website for her business. I need to develop an E-Commerce website. Even though we live over 500 miles apart, I could do the site. That's such a relief! I also ended up being the family photographer this year. Nearly everyone had a digital camera, but no one was going to take the group family photo. That's what's pictured here. Just as one of my dad's uncle and his wife were about to leave, I told my father I wanted a picture of him with his aunts and uncles. Next thing I know, Uncle Tommy, the host, asks if my camera could take a tripod. Since I could place it on a tripod, the family decides to take a group photo, like what's been done in years past. They didn't have one last year. So the whole family goes outside and we line up for a photo. I was the last one to get into the photo since I had to set the camera up and turn on the self timer. I don't have e-mail address for everyone, but those I do have got a copy of the 2 family photos and a link to my Flickr set of Thankgiving 2006 photos.
Before we left Chattanooga today, my father and I went to the Tennessee Aquarium. We were up there, why not go? Again, I took plenty of photos of adventure. I think we both liked the otters the most. My dad got a big otter at the gift shop, and I got a small one. We also got the pictures taken of us at the front of the aquarium. I got my siblings each a stuffed animal. I got Matthew, the one that would have liked to gone to the Aquarium, a shark and a turtle. My sisters get a brightly colored sting ray and a macaw.
Well, that's it for now. Sorry, I'm crying now. I can't help it at the moment. I miss my mother.
[♪ Listening to: "One More Day" - Diamond Rio]
Posted by Shawn at November 24, 2006 11:24 PM in Flickr Photos, General.
