What's That Smell?

England is an interesting place to live. Did you know that in England there are things that are legal that are illegal in ALL 50 states in the United States? Are you curious as to what that would be? Let me tell you.

We have this family at church, the A's, and let's just say the family as a whole is a bit odd. The mother in unstable and runs out in tears almost every Sunday. The children? All four of them are a bit "weird" but all of this could be attributed to their parents. Then I found out something interesting. A friends daughter was getting married (in Utah) and apparently in her geneology about 6 branches back her tree merges with her soon to be hubbies tree. Six generations back - not a big deal and hey it makes it easier on your children keeping track of their family history right? Anyway her mom says "J is a bit embarrassed at the fact that she's related distantly to her husband but I just told her it isn't like the A's so really no big deal." Now I am intrigued - the A's are related and we aren't talking 6 generations back?? I do a bit of investigating and find out just HOW related they are. They are double cousins. Do you know what this means?

Let me tell you: A brother and sister from family A marry a brother and sister from family B. Then they each have children. Not a big deal. Then a boy from one set marries a girl from the other set. You aren't just cousins - you are double cousins. Instead of your family tree branching OUT it merges back together. In the US there are a few states that allow you to marry your cousin but NONE of them allow double cousin marriage. I suppose it is lucky for the A's they don't live in the states.

Anyway, that bit of background really has nothing to do with my issue of the day, even though it does involve Brother A. At church yesterday we are all sitting nicely in our pews. We sit on the left hand side in the 4th or 5th row. It is a small chapel so while it sounds close it is actually it is as far back as we can sit without sitting on folding chairs. We have an opening song and I smell something. I know I showered this morning and my shirt is clean - recheck myself for body odor - nope not me. Lean over to pre-teen boy. Just last week I told him I would tell him when he smells and we can buy deodorant. Nope, he doesn't smell yet. Lean toward hubby, nope not him either. Song ends. Smell subsides. General announcements are said and the usual and then time for another song. There is the smell again WOW I almost could pass out. Then I realize it is Brother A. Nothing like a man with intense body odor in the front of the chapel conducting the music. Just what we need is him waving his arms around. I think to myself "I am so glad I am not pregnant because that would surely make me hurl".

Do you think that if you marry your double cousin maybe you both have the same smelling gene and that you are unable to tell that your husband stinks? Maybe THIS explains why Sister A gets up and leaves 1/2 way through church in tears almost every Sunday.

Quite a few of you were confused on this. I found this picture that might help.

Now what happens at the bottoms - you take Brother and match him with Double First Cousin as husband and wife then they have kids. Instead of having 4 sets of great grandparents you only have 2.