Do you remember the sketch on Saturday Night Live called “The Loud Family?” It was a long time ago so some of you might not remember. Well, I remember seeing it and thinking, “Did they get this idea from my family?” Let me explain my theory. I think that all of the times that we were forced to be quiet while living in the funeral home resulted in a bunch of loud people who all talk at once.
Because we were stifled so often, when we finally had the chance to let loose, we took full advantage. We’d blast music, yell, talk loud and usually all at the same time. Seriously, we had so many dinners that we had to whisper through that when we didn’t have a funeral, our dinner table discussions were loud, fun and obnoxious. I swear to you that you can’t get a sentence out in my family without at least one person interrupting you. Everyone talks at once and at a volume that is slightly higher than what some would consider normal. I’ve had more than one boyfriend tell me how loud I am, like it’s my fault. I don’t even know when I’m being loud. What they considered to be yelling was the regular volume at our dinner table. We go up to “11.”
For those outside of the family who are brave enough to spend time with us, one of two things will happen; they either find us really entertaining and fun to be around or they can only take it for so long and have to leave the room. My oldest sister’s husband can take us for about 10 minutes before it sends him running into another room, or better yet, another floor.
I admit we might be a little overwhelming to some people, and believe me, after a few days of being with them, it’s really annoying. All I want to do is finish a freakin’ sentence without being interrupted, or tell a story without all of them inserting funny little cracks in the middle of it. Granted, all of us are funny and we all do it to each other, but the minute someone complains about it, we call them a “baby.”
With three daughters and a chatty mother, plus a funny dad and brother who liked to entertain, there was a lot of chatter in my house (when we could.) My mom and sisters have what I call “D-O-M” on a regular basis (that’s short for diarrhea of the mouth). So when all of us get together, there’s a whole lotta DOM. A few years ago, I was trying to tell a story and my dad kept interrupting to the point where I finally said, “Can you please not talk until I’m done?” He didn’t, but instead, raised his hand like he was in school and kept it there until I was done.
Do you think my doing stand-up and talking into microphone while people attentively listen to me was partly driven by the fact that NO ONE listens to each other in my family? I have been on stage and have heard a few audience members talking and I can’t stop myself from addressing it. I have said to them “would you please stop talking while I’m talking because it makes me feel like I’m with my family.” They laugh because they think it’s a joke.
It’s not joke, those people are out of control 
Hi! We're the "Loud" Family....
Are you sure you are not just Italian?
Mr J and I are both Italian but his family beat mine all to hell. When he talks to his brother on the phone I have to keep telling him to be quiet. And I can hear his brother on the other end of the line, across the room! Hey, it’s a phone, not two cans and a string.
Thank goodness your family was loud (when they weren’t quiet) so you felt driven to do stand-up!
Irish , Italian? Not much difference other than the Italians can cook !
Hi Celeste,
So happy to have your mom tell Joe and I about your really funny blog. The visit with your mom this year was bittersweet without your dad being there to greet us. We always stopped in to say hello to start our vacation. Love the blogs so keep writing.
Julie and Joe Herring
Ohhhh Julie and Joe, I know without my dad there, it’s not the same. We all miss him so much. Thank you both for reading. Joe’s comments are cracking me up!
In all of my professional life, I have seen much understatement. But ” CHATTY mother”! Now, THAT’S UNDERSTEMENT….
Joe Herring
your comments are making me crack up…yeah, “chatty” doesn’t quite do it, does it?
I loved the scene where he’s saying how his daughter is deceased. Someone asks how and he says “AVALANCHE”.
Nice picture
so dark, so lovely
dear,darling,Celeste,I always thought I was the listener in the family,No?Great story,though.Love,Mom
You the listener? HA! You’re the DOM ring leader…..I love you too Mom
DOM? You too little sister:) i think we all have the gift of gab, and loud gab!!! We were silenced at a young age with those chewy candies mom fed us to stay quiet during a viewing…..many years of pent up talking, music and dancing…. Let the loud party begin…..with the loud family:)
You know me….I’m down for the party, but could do without the DOM
I know now that there is not one thing, wrong with you,
I mean you are almost perfect !!
I am reading All of your stuff but water keeps falling out of my eyes and I can hardley breathe from laughing !!
keep reading and laughing ….I love it
Really, loud, us???? No! It was always like a party when we got together especially as Dad read the newspaper to us, out loud, or he started cracking jokes and getting silly! It all makes me miss you guys so much!
yeah, you miss us until you see us
Love the family picture!
Thanks Denise!
Jim & I were the ones that loved the entertainment factor! You may have been the LOUD family – we were the SILENT family so we thought your family was a HOOT!
You and Jimmy were like extended family, but quiet and normal