Monday, August 27, 2007

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.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am pregnant and the mere thought of being in a close space with smells of an unkind nature make me want to hurl. That isn't right. And the double cousin thing I don't understand it. Maybe she likes the way he smells? If she was okay with marrying her cousin she might be okay with his strange body stench.

Mom not Mum (Sandy) said...

Now if her cousin were Scotty we might understand why but trust me Crick - he is NO Scott!

heidi larsen said...

that is cool that you live in england! do you love it? i know you are excited to move back to the states, but i am dying to visit england. especially where jane austen lived. have you been there?

and~ gross. marrying your double cousin. and~ put on some deoderant already, especially if you are leading the music in church!

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...

Ewww. In Sweden, where my ancestors hail from, they are currently dealing with the problems of a gene pool that is too small. Inbreeding issues are so great that people are encouraged (not sure if its just encouraged or actually the law) to marry people of a different race. Many go to South America in search of a spouse with vastly different genes.

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...
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Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...
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Head Gaggler said...

I hate yucky smells. How awful. And I cannot imagine thinking its OK to marry someone remotely in my family. Gross.

Pam said...

i'm so confuzzled bout the double cousin thing...is that when cousins marry each other (first cousins)? and i can't even imagine marrying a cousin no matter how far removed.

maybe for xmas u can get brother A a gift of cologne, deodorant, and soap. lol

Christie O. said...

Oh boy, that's the oddest thing. I can't even picture that or having that in my family, crazy! Family trees must be branches, not just a trunk!

and EW, b.o.

Rebecca said...

That was kinda hard to follow, yet funny :P

Anonymous said...

Ewwww...to the bo and to the marrying your cousin. Brings new meaning to keeping it in the family! Funny story!

Pam said...

thx for the clarification and dbl ewwww to the dbl cousins!

Trish K said...

Blech, funny yet ...gross

*Merry Girls* said...

Oh my gosh! I almost peed my pants laughing. I have never heard of double cousins and I have to say I am glad. Great post!

Nicole said...

Im confused... but it doesnt take much. LOL It still sounds gross anyway. hehe

Anonymous said...

Ok this was hysterical...in a ewwww kind of way. What is wrong with people?? I mean wrong in marrying cousins AND deodorant.

Jenn in Holland said...

Hi.Lair.ee.us.

ewe are here said...

Eeeeew. Double cousins. BO. Eeeeew.

You need to sit in a different pew!

lackrik said...

are you SURE this didn't happen in Arkansas?


lol

Anonymous said...

I just want to clarify double cousins for the commenters (not the blogger who understands).

My DH is a double cousin. There is no incest involved. A double cousin is when two siblings marry into another family and marry two siblings. So his father and his uncle married two sisters. They shared both sets of grandparents.

So double cousins is not weird...but the cousin's marrying each other IS. That's the same, kinship wise, as marrying your half sibling!

BTW, my kids keep asking what kinds of cousins they are to my DH's double cousins kids. I looked it up, and they are double second cousins.