“Unraveling Secrets: How a Thanksgiving Reunion with Daddio Changed Everything for Shack Man”
Added on March 17, 2025 inASTROLOGY CARDS
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Catch up here – Shack Man
Chapter 23 – Thanksgiving & Meeting Daddio
Picture this: You’re cruising in a car, your thoughts swirling like autumn leaves, and the smell of turkey wafting into the air. It’s Thanksgiving, but not just any Thanksgiving. No, this is a Thanksgiving where emotions are simmering just below the surface and you can cut the tension with a fork—one you might just need for that turkey, because it’s about to get juicy. Shack and I were in the car together, glancing at each other but not diving into the deep end of conversation. Why not? Well, simply put, we didn’t have to. Over the months of our late-night phone talks, we’d built a bond—a fortuitous intuition that allowed us to read between the lines, to know when to push forward and when to retreat. Trust was the name of the game, and we were getting the hang of it. But little did I know, the real challenge awaited us at the familial dinner table ahead… LEARN MORE.
Catch up here – Shack Man
Chapter 23 – Thanksgiving & Meeting Daddio
Shack and I checked on each other in the car but we did not discuss anything deep for a number of reasons.
First, we didn’t need to. We could intuit each other, reliably. I felt this skill was forged during those early months we spent talking on the phone. We’d each put our faith in the other. He kept calling. I kept answering. We came to really trust each other.
We also had our same sex sibling to talk to. This was working, beautifully.
I knew he was stressed, though he appeared pretty calm. I didn’t think he was worried about Thanksgiving all that much at this point. But his brother and the following days collision with the father was weighing on him, heavily.
This handshake thing, and also driving away from the mother’s house, headed for the fathers. Possible wigging trigger, right there. Bringing this up, or piling more on top it, seemed ill advised. I also don’t mind working my own puzzle.
We knew what we were doing and we were becoming more knitted together, by the day. We were halfway through this, looking to stay cool and bring it home.
We had to get Shack’s birth time from his mother and she’d complied. She’s offered the time over the phone, but she showed me his birth certificate, in person, as if it were an offering. I received it as such.
I couldn’t fault the woman. Based on what I’d seen, I had no problem with the men doing what they needed to do to help her avoid wigging. I had a love for her, to tell you the truth, as I loved her son… sons. I truly felt I had some insight into her eldest. These hearts were connected and I was part of that now.
I was trying to discern why the Italian had withdrawn his family from this holiday. I definitely thought he had a reason, but what? I knew I was among people with masks, but I could say nothing about it as I was behind one myself. I thought it’d be fine if stayed this way on this visit. We’d get better acquainted over time.
I wasn’t having a bad time. The problem was the Neptune transit. I was open to the other people’s feelings. Their feelings were mostly sad or frenetic. It was like being in a house full of strangers, who knew each other well. “Satisfaction” was a missing component. I couldn’t make sense of it, in the moment.
I could also see this was not a fun or funny family. I’d been told it was different before older brother died. Either way, this was not a home where you’d let your hair down at all, anyway. I don’t think they’d crave the Kay & Elsa routine, that’s for sure.
The mother did feel unstable to me, but it was sadness, under it all. I believe the ruby for my ring was intended for the eldest son. When he died, this passed to, Shack.
Imagine what was coming up with that. If she gives us the ring – is her eldest son is really dead? She’d not concluded that in twenty years. This was a death/birth thing. I thought of my 8th house; goods of the dead?
This is the kind of stuff I was thinking, and having to feel through. Not the kind of thing to bring up in the car, on a ten minute drive, back to the house, two hours before the show starts.
The mother and the sister were both polite and included me in what they doing; setting the table, basically. The stepfather did the cooking. The mother specifically talked about the customs in their family, which I appreciated.
The sister had adjusted her behavior overnight. I’m guessing this was due to her husband not approving of her snotty, condescending behavior. It also may have been because her act fell flat, I don’t know. She was dealing fake sugar and even faker “interest”, but she was dealing.
I was surprised when she came outside to watch us climb the wall. Apparently this was a Thanksgiving ritual.
It occurred to me the sunshine became her. Shack and I both had Venus in Leo. When she came outside to play with us, her Leo heart came alive. She looked legit, happy.
His mother came outside for this as well. In hindsight, this scene was the high point of our visit there.
Shack went first. He scrambled up the side of his mother’s house, to tap the chimney. We all clapped like seals. Clearly, they’d been doing since he was small. His brother also climbed the wall and hit the chimney. Then it was my turn.
I really wanted to make and by God, I tried, but my lard ass was just too heavy. I made it to the top, but there was a trick to the chimney slap. You had to hold the wall with fingertips of one hand, while you reached high and around to hit the chimney. I had to settle for “good sport points”. Later, I’d say, “I fought my ass, and my ass won!”
The happy feeling outside, faded as soon as we walked in the house. It was not a subtle shift. More like, lights on, lights off. I knew, immediately why, Shack, spent his childhood outdoors. Was my childhood home like this too? I think it was.
We are sitting around chatting politely, when Shack’s other sister arrived with her husband and the kids. It was a burst of energy. The Italian stood out, because he came in the door, eying me as if we had a plan and were about to execute it., My reaction to this, was a boundary I drew, internally. I was going to act against this family, no matter what.
I thought he wanted us to turn this family into fun Italians. Dude, there’s no way. Objectively speaking, there no way this could be done. But beyond that, I have, Libra. I’m polite and people-pleasing for the most part. I was also with, Shack, and working with him to manifest our shared goals for this trip. I was not about to change my allegiance.
I’m suggesting he came in with an agenda, which ran counter to, Shack’s, agenda. We saw a preview of this at his house. This was going to be a mess for me. Don’t tell me I have to fight my own people.
It’s not that I didn’t agree family gatherings should be fun and full of love. I just I wasn’t quite in this family yet. I was a guest in someone’s house! Come to my house, we’ll have fun! This isn’t my house!
Everybody hugged everybody, but the Italian made a big show of hugging me, and showering me with compliments in Italian. I was flattered and embarrassed to the point of feeling ashamed. Shack was irked. I’d never seen him agitated. I thought it was the combination of the stress of planning the trip and the fact this was his deal. It was important to him and the Italian was cutting in.
In hindsight, it would have been very awkward to do, but seeing this, I might have talked to the Italian, privately. You know. Talk to him as if he were my big brother? Plead with him to postpone this operation, because it’s hurting his little sister so much! Offer to sweeten the deal with some kind of favor he’d appreciate. Agreed to be in his debt, beyond that, if necessary.
To be fair, he didn’t have all the info. I think he’d just been round and round with this family; he wanted to put them in their place and I was to help. He may have thought, Shack, would stand with me.
He would have but this wasn’t me! I’m not playing, “Italians are best,” with my future in-laws, who I’ve just met! This is especially true, when they’re trying to get along with me, which they were doing, at this point. I also did not know what the conflict was and I wasn’t going to guess.
He did say he wanted to lash out and apparently he was going to use me to do this. Sprout looked at me, like, “Sorry. Help.”
I looked at her like, “I get it. I’ll try.” This proved hard to do.
From that point on, every time I talked to one of the non-DC people, the Italian showed up, to intervene and compliment me, effusively. The only way to circumvent this, was to speak to his family, only.
When I talked to his family, the other side of the family was excluded. Hey! This is not my way.
Granted, they were fun and easier to talk to, but we’re in someone’s house! And we’re staying there!
Further, he was not neutral. Many the comments he made to me, with his voice, booming, was insulting to this family. Basically, they don’t know how relax and laugh and have fun with family. He strongly prompted me to back him up with this. Oh God, get me out of here!
We sat for dinner; he was next to me, as he’s planned. He made a speech that was focused a good deal on me and my value to this family. Kill me now!
The family was steamed and when they glared at him, they glared at me. I would have like to say something but there’s Sprout and the kids, never mind, Shack was squeezing my and hand under the table.
To fast forward to the end of this ordeal, we finished dinner, thank God, and then took their traditional Thanksgiving picture, with a camera with a timer. It was sweet, actually and also funny, as the Italian positioned himself next to me; the kids were in front. Sure enough, he got his Italian section together.
He whispered a joke, right as the camera went off, causing our end of the group to laugh. I saw that picture and it was something else.
All the dark-haired people were on the far end. He and I and both kids had what one would call, shit-eating grins in that picture. It was impossible to miss he group assembled and looking like born, winners, in love with life, ourselves and each other! I’m telling you, it was a snap for the ages
Spout and her family left as things wound down. I think everyone was a bit tired. We’d accomplished all we could.
The Leo sister and her husband went home, saying their goodbyes, as we were leaving in the morning and they wouldn’t see us until next year. They were pleasant. I thought this ended a lot better than it started, but I had little insight into why that was. I’m saying, I was not deluding myself, I’d won her over.
Shack and I went outside, leaving his brother to care for the mother. I had a tinge of guilt, but the idea of keeping these bursts of interaction, short, was clearly working.
I forgot to tell you, I was shown the ruby. My sister again; it was pulled down and taken from a box in the closet, exactly where she randomly said it was stored.
Shack’s mother told me it was for me, but said she wanted to talk to her son… and do something, first. She didn’t specify what.
I didn’t judge this, because it was her ruby. But I was also well acquainted with, Shack and his methods. If he got his taste from her, maybe he got his methods as well.
Shack’s sister witnessed this. It was as if she’d been overruled and her brother would in fact, be given the ring for my finger. The court had spoken. She might stab me later, but she also may not. She was keeping her options open.
The Three Amigos got up early to head to, Virginia Beach. This was the brother’s horror and we all knew it, which made it worse. I was hoping for a miracle; like we’d have fun in the car, get there and he’d want to stick around. I was also thinking this:
SisterMother
Father
Memorial?
New York?
It may not be marvelous, but we were getting it done.
Shack’s brother was brooding on the trip over, which was expected. He had his moments, but Shack and did most the talking, trying to be supportive and keep his energy up.
I still didn’t know what was up with the father, but the closer we got to him, the more his youngest son, stressed. He was sweating an hour out. I also noticed him speeding up, which is exactly what I would have done. He wanted to get this over with.
We pulled up in front of the house. We didn’t have a chance to knock; the father was waiting for us. He opened the door as we stood in front it.
He had an unreadable grin on his face; when he leaned forward and looked me right in the eye. “Elsa! Elsa! There you are. I’m the father!” he said. Then he turned to, Shack, in anger, “I told you not to bring a nigger to my house!”
I was shocked, but I laughed out loud. I mean, what kind of fresh hell is this? My sister wants a story? She’s got one! The men were not laughing.
Before anyone could say anything, the father made another remark, “You think I’m going to let you bring a nigger in my house and let her eat dinner with my wife?!”
Shack was a red color I’d never seen before. The brother looked ready to faint or perhaps, kill him. Shack got a handle on himself. He apologized to me and asked his brother to take me to the car and wait for him. “I’m going in and to talk to him,” he said. He pushed his way in, while his father opened the door wide.
“Sure! You can come in! Just don’t bring any niggers with you!” he said.
Shack’s brother was mortified. That’s not a strong enough word. He was shaking like a leaf and apologizing, profusely. The man had a stellium in Virgo in his 12th house so there you go.
To be continued.
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