Is it just me, or do you have someone in your life with grabby paws? Not grabby in the, you know, personal violation sense but in the gimme sense.

I married into a family of 'em. At the very least it started with Pop's Pop.

Queenie is getting better about it but still relapses. Moreso when around her family.

With Mum in hospice I see too much of the family and thus there is far too much of the grabby. For example, the other night Queenie, Pop, Queenie's bro Joe, and I went out to dinner at a BBQ joint. Make your order, wait for your pager to buzz, then pick up your order.

While our order was being prepared I went over and picked up straws, silverware, and some sauces for everyone. Just as I turn to head back to the table Queenie, unexpectedly,  tries to grab the tray out of my hands managing to spill some of it, all while saying "here, let me get that". Yeah, I already had it but thanks.

Get back to our table and start handing out plastic ware. Pops grabs it out of my hand and takes over. Joe grabs the napkins out of my other hand, just beating Queenie by half a snatch. Up until now they had all ignored the straws and sauces but as soon as I picked up one of the sauces, grab. Pick up another, grab. Pick up the straws, grab but too slow.

The pager goes of and Joe and I go up to get our trays of food. Joe grabs one and says "I'll be back for the other" but as soon as he saw me picking it up he grabs for it ..... just a hair slow as I twist away, but he almost dropped the tray he already had just to pull off the grab.

One thing I've learned well is to never say anything positive about what you are eating unless everyone has that same thing OR you have just taken the last bite. If you have something unique that others don't have and say anything remotely positive, forks will fly in your general direction to grab a taste. Grab grab grab.

A similar scenario went about when it was time for clearing the table. Pick something up, "Here, let me get that" accompanied by the grab. And a few more things spilled from the 'enthusiasm'. Or something like that.

The Grabbies.

Glad they're gone back home.