Chili Rituals and Rainy Sundays

It's raining and my plans of taking the kids and the dogs (and perhaps the husband) on a Sunday hike and picnic have been foiled. The kids are nonetheless outside (under the rain) but I am inside at my usual spot near the radiator.
Yesterday I went nuts in the kitchen and whipped up a Tex-Mex feast. I made the Hart family chili, guacamole, bean dip, cheese and onion enchiladas. I even found the blender and we made margaritas. Everything was fantastic but, as usual, I made too much. We will be eating chili for quite a while. But that's ok. I like chili.
As a kid, there was almost something magical about chili at my grandparents' house in Austin. If we were having chili, everyone came over. My grandparents had a dining room table with at least 10 leaves. It easily fit 25 people. Anyway, chili night was crowded, the table was full. The kids drank half frozen Dr. Pepper, the adults drank beer. There were special bowls that were filled with rice and chili and distributed. All of the chili optionals were put in the center of the table and passed around: pinto beans, diced white onions, grated cheese, flour and corn tortillas, sliced white bread and ketchup for my cousin Wyn. There would also be a bowl or 2 of guacamole and tortilla chips. After the chili, pie and Bluebell ice cream.
My first serious boyfriend called the chili dinners 'the chili ritual'. I think that he understood.
The last time I had chili before last night was Christmas eve 2006. I made it for my brothers and our families when we were all down in La Marque for the holidays. We were at my parents' house (now my brother's) at our family table.
Every family in Texas has it's own chili recipe and ritual I believe. I also imagine that most Texans are like me in that they believe that their family's recipe (and ritual) is the best. I won't eat- I won't even hear TALK- about another family's chili. I know that mine is the best. Ours is ancho chile based and uses chunks of roundsteak. I know that some people are completely against beans in chili- in ours, it's an optional. The chili is not cooked with beans but if you want to add them in later, you can. I do. For me, ground beef chili is heresy. Yuck.
I got word a couple of weeks ago from 3 separate famiy members in Austin that a cousin was having everyone over for chili. Everyone means at least 20 family members. That kind of made me feel lonely over here in the land of pasta.
My husband and son have learned to love chili as much as I do and know that chili is more than a simple food, it IS a ritual. It's an important part of me and my heritage.