Two families, one in San Diego, Ca., the other in Montgomery, Alabama. All were cousins, the adults average 36 and 38, the four children 11 and 14. Four 4 years running, the families alternated their summer vacations.

At the end of the school year, all the kids talked about was the upcoming vacation. All six of them got along fantastic and each couldn’t wait for their new adventures. In San Diego they were introduced to surfing, scuba diving, San Diego Zoo, LegoLand, Sea World, ferry ride to Coronado Island and finally go-kart racing.

Questions included….

• Does it ever rain here?
• How come there is no humidity yet you are right on the water?
• Does anyone here have any accents?
• How far away are you from Hollywood

The adults had a blast at the many restaurants, specifically the Mexican influence.

In Montgomery it was the Alabama Safari Park, Montgomery Zoo, Riverwalk Stadium and the Harriot II Riverboat ride. But nothing came close to the endless water-hole. A rope, 30 feet long, tied to a branch of a huge cypress tree was all the California kids wanted. Perhaps it was the incredible humidity, maybe it was the simplicity and excitement they never experienced before, but this water hole was it!

Each year the texts flew across the country preparing for the families getting together. Missing in any conversation, either from the children or the adults, was any inkling of what was about to happen.

At the conclusion of the presidential election in 2021, the texts and phone calls became (as explained) “weird & uncomfortable”. Neither family had ever had ever brought up politics and or lifestyle but there was a mutual respect as to the differences. The Montgomery family were hunters and enjoyed fishing. The San Diego family, even though they had no interest and had not experienced anything along those lines, had no real reaction or for that matter negative comments. In other words, it was no big deal. The fourth family vacation was to be in Montgomery.

Upon arrival, the mood was totally different. There was a caustic and unexplained uneasiness between the families. It came to a head very quickly. The 15 year old told his male cousin to come see what he got for his birthday.

There on his wall, over his bed was an American flag and hanging on a rack was an AR15 with a photo of Joe Biden and a bullseye attached to his head. The silence was deafening. As they came out of his room, the families met in the hallway and within 10 seconds, the previous three years of cousins enjoying each other, looking forward to family being family, talking of college and or career, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. all crashed and burned. “California liberal fags” and “right wing crazy bastards” was the last words this family ever spoke.

Words and feelings that never even hinted at being spoken, all came out at once. There was no discussion, debate or even an attempt to comprehend what had happened. Without a single word being spoken, the rental car was packed and on the way to a hotel at the airport.

The parents to each family who had nothing to do with any of this, have not spoken since.