Step 12: Visit with Out-of-Town Family

I'm pretty fortunate to have most of my family living within driving distance, but there is a chunk on my mom's side who's all the way out in California (I guess you could say that's pretty lucky too - having family in the perfect vacation spot - but plane ticket prices can be a bit of bad luck). When they come back to their old stomping grounds in Indiana, my mom and I always make a point of spending some time with them. They rent a big white van to haul all the family around to various former homes and hangouts, as well as to their favorite local food joints (believe it or not, one of them is White Castle - bleh!). We talk about the past and catch up on plans for the future, and it's surprisingly a good time. I say surprisingly because you'd think a younger person like myself wouldn't really be in to looking at old buildings, hearing stories, and eating White Castle's (ok, maybe most young people wouldn't have a problem with the White Castles part, but I don't even like McDonalds) - most kids of my generation and lower are more interested in what's going on in their phones. But it was neat to see that my families' old homes were still standing, and it was nice to get caught up with people I hadn't seen since I was in high school, and dang it, even the White Castles wasn't awful.

So my question to you: What do you do when your family gets together?
And my challenge to you: If you've got family coming in from out of town, go spend some time with them, even if it means doing something you thinks going to be boring. They'll appreciate getting to spend time with you, and you might be surprised to find your self entertained.

Eating with the family at White Castle.