OCD Cured?

So I was at my parents this weekend for Father’s Day. It was time to go, and my family began the usual ritual associated with my departure – everyone gets up, Mom digs in the fridge and tries to send me home with something random “hun do you want some coleslaw? How about some chicken thighs?” and I’m rejecting the offer while Toot (my nephew) is suddenly distraught by my leaving, doing his best to climb up my leg to get to me. We walk outside, I kiss everyone bye and thank them for the day, tell Daddy I hope he likes the cap and DVD I gave him. Get in the car and beep the horn as I’m pulling off and waving bye.

>gasp< I think I’m cured! Usually there’s an entirely different ritual involved in my weekendly departure. (ha, love to make up words)

Normally, I have to kiss my family in a certain order: first I kiss Mom and hug her, then my sister, then I try to kiss Toot which usually results in a war, then I kiss and hug my father. Then I tell them I enjoyed the day, blah blah, and lean in to repeat the hugging and kissing in the same order as before.

If I do not kiss and hug them twice, I feel strange. And, it must be done in that exact order, or I have to stop and start over. Mom and Dad have to be at the beginning and end because I love them most, no offense to my sister and nephew, but they did give me life.

My family used to just laugh at me when I did this, then when they realized it was something I had to do, they started messing with me. Like for instance, Mom would lag behind in the house and say “Go ahead and start saying your good-byes, I’ll be right out,” knowing I couldn’t start without her. Or Dad would try to jump in front of my sis to be hugged, knowing I wouldn’t step back and tell him it wasn’t his turn. Ultimately I’d get flustered and just have to start over.

Okay, so this is really dumb and I know I don’t have OCD, but it is kinda entertaining how I feel compelled to do these things without reason.

I think since my life’s been changing recently, I’ve had more to think about and less to obsess over. Hmph. I’m cured! (Until I find my next obsession…)