Pessimism & Poptarts

We Are Family - Part 4


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In the grand finale of this four-part family therapy session, Sandra puts Ryan in the hot seat with a series of questions that unpack the good, the bad, and the bizarre of their upbringing.


We finally get the definitive ranking of relatives, from the most connected (Uncle Jim) to the most distant—Aunt Susan, a woman who seemingly developed a southern accent mid-flight to North Carolina and has avoided speaking to Ryan for his entire life. The star of the show, however, is Great Grandpa Petropolis, a man who lied his way through Ellis Island, got to Muskegon by pointing at a map, and was fueled by bacon grease and cigars until he was over 100 years old.


The conversation then turns to the two deaths that defined their childhood: the passing of their beloved Great Grandpa, which irrevocably changed their mother, and the death of their Uncle Kent, the tragic event that triggered the family's downward spiral into addiction and dysfunction.


Finally, Ryan reflects on the one area where he felt superior to his cousins: his "accidental freedom." While they lived in a gilded cage, he was taking spontaneous, pre-Google Maps road trips to Indiana just because a friend was sad. We wrap up with the ultimate "what if": which relatives were named in the will to raise them, and how would life have been different? (Hint: it involves the Grateful Dead tour) .


Thank you for sticking with us through this chaotic family tree. If you made it out alive, please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!


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Pessimism & PoptartsBy Sophia & Sandra VanDyke