For many of us, Stargazers is a big ole family of grandmas & grandpas, moms & dads, brothers & sisters, sons & daughters, aunts & uncles & cousins. Our lobby is the living room of Grandma Gazer's home, where we all come together to talk to, laugh with, celebrate with, comfort and even tease each other. And yes, we also annoy, upset, hurt and fight with each other. That's what family does. But at the end of the day we're still family.
Some of us have closer relationships than others. Some of us hardly know each other at all. Some of us are in pain and some of us comfort that pain. Some of us are lonely and some of us provide the hugs others need to get through their day. Some of us are living with terminal illnesses and some of us give the hope others need to keep fighting for life.
When you join our family, we welcome you with open arms and consider you family as long as you follow Grandma Gazer's house rules and do not disrespect other family members. Disagreement and disrespect are two totally different things. Families have disagreements but they can always be settled in respectful ways.
When you enter Grandma Gazer's home you don't have to knock, just come on in. However, be sure to say "Hello" when you enter. Don't sneak off into a corner chair and expect someone to notice you sitting there. Some days, Grandma Gazer's home is full of family members and we don't always see everyone who comes in. If you say "Hello" and nobody answers, we may be in the middle of a conversation or out in the back yard. Don't get upset and storm out of the house. Say "HELLO" again until someone notices.
When you see someone enter Grandma Gazer's home, be sure to say "Hello", especially if it is a new family member. Find out their name and introduce them to the rest of the family. Make sure they feel welcomed. If you have to leave, be sure to say "Goodbye" and don't run out the door right away. Give everyone a chance to say "Goodbye" to you. Oh, and we hug a lot so you'll probably get hugs coming and going if you wait for them.
We love to "eat" at Grandma Gazer's home. In fact, most of us show up on a regular basis to eat. Others show up just to chat or to say "hello". Grandma has lots of tables for some good eatin', so everyone who wants can eat. Just make sure you're on time and paying attention in the living room when it's your time to eat.
Even though we are family, we expect everyone to show the dinner table manners we should have learned as children. When you are called to the table, please come to the table promptly. Be sure to thank the person providing the meal. Be sure to greet everyone at the table with you. Be sure to wish them a good meal, bon appetit. If someone is choking on their food, give them a pat on the back (Ping them). Yelling at them (Undo, Clear Score, Skip Hand) accomplishes nothing. We love to eat fast at grandma's house so make sure your plate is clean in 30 minutes or someone will take it away anyway.
When you are finished please wait to be excused and be sure to tell everyone how much you enjoyed being at the table with them. It is not acceptable in Grandma Gazer's home to leave the table immediately when finished eating and dash out the front door without saying a word. If you have to leave right away, do so politely by thanking everyone and then saying "goodbye". Rudeness will get you banned from Grandma Gazer's tables for several days.
Grandma Gazer has a few more house rules. No "sexy" stuff in the living room or at the dinner table. Find a bedroom with a lockable door or wait until you get to your home. No wrestling or horseplay in the living room. Take it outside. None of that "nasty talk" either. The occasional slip of the tongue won't get you in trouble, but if you keep talking that way, you'll get sent home. Grandma Gazer doesn't want any kisses from a "potty mouth".
Grandma Gazer's home should be a safe place to visit for everyone in the family. It should be a home filled with laughter and happiness as much as possible. Of course, there will be sad days when we "celebrate" the life of someone we lost or hold the hand of someone who has received bad news. But other days we celebrate births, marriages, cures and other happy events.
Everyone should be able to leave Grandma Gazer's home feeling better than they did when they first arrived. Let us strive to make sure that is how it is as much as possible.
(Ranked 125 on STARGAZERS (Yahoo) 
Ladder) on July 23, 2009 at 16:48:32:
) 14:23:49 7/26/09
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