Posted on 09/12/2010 3:44:54 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
I guess how one could interpret the conversation as disrespectful if they don’t understand my family. It was a heated conversation and it wasn’t the first one her and I have had on this or many other subjects. My family tends to take on the tone of “my big fat greek wedding”. We don’t have “respectful, quiet debates.” We have loud, table-pounding, passionate debates! Nobody loves to argue more than we do. Every conversation with her is stimulating for both of us and terrible fun. (There has *never* been any name calling from any member of my entire family toward another. Ever. We are passionate, not hurtful. The debates are never personal.) Heck, even when we agree it sounds like we’re arguing. We’re just adding points to the discussion.
Two seconds later the subject changes and we’re laughing over a funny story. (”Funny” in *our* eyes... All of us tend to have a bit of “gallows” humor. It’s a good thing G-d gave us each other because very few people get us as a group.)
You have to realize that I have the classic Boomer/Gen Xer relationship with my mom where I’ve done most of the parenting. (*Her* words, not mine.) She didn’t have a lot of guidance from her own parents and, when she was young, she was confused by the messages of society and followed the herd. Followed it into multiple divorces, debt and massive work and business failure all in the name of “following her dream”. As a kid, I sat back and observed. By the time I was 15, I had pretty much figured out what didn’t work and I started steering her in the right direction. (I made my share of mistakes in my 20’s, too. I knew what NOT to do, but I hadn’t figured out what to do yet. She supported me unconditionally through that.) She taught me all of the basics of life (cooking/cleaning/reading/writing/and the very important lesson about loving G-d). I taught her about money management, relationship management and politics. In the end, we’ve supported each other through the trial and error of the learning curve and we both turned out pretty well!
Now she’s matured and she’s madder about this whole mess than I am. She’s furious that her grandchildren’s future is in question.
But she’s also just as scared as I am. Probably more right now because she’s in her 60’s, has no husband and partially disabled.
I’ve never let her turn away from truth because it was scary. In our relationship, we take turns being the “tough one”. That day, it was my turn.
After I let her sleep on it, I broached the topic again and she was more vocal than I was! Snarling mad! And not about protecting her SS. She was mad and wanting to protect her country and her prodigy’s future.
But the main point I was trying to make is that she’s not the only Boomer having difficulty coming to grips with this terrifying reality and she’s not the only one I’ve had similar conversations with. To her credit, she’s the only one that eventually “got it.”
I’m afraid, ladies. I’m afraid that the Boomers are going to be taken off guard by reality when they’re at their most vulnerable. I’m afraid that the younger generations won’t have the compassion necessary to deal with the issues in a humane way. Many in my generation feel that we were abandoned by our parents in our childhood and do not feel a great debt to their elders. I’m very afraid that the evil of euthanasia will become a reality. At the very least, I’m afraid that we’ll start denying medical services to the elderly. The Boomers need to wake up before they can’t do anything about it.
I *won’t* fall into the trap of treating the elderly like children. They are mature, intelligent, proud adults who’ve lived full lives and have decades of valuable experience. Someone thinks it’s wrong to “scare” Grandma? Well, “Grandma” is a woman grown who is perfectly capable of facing reality with wisdom and common sense. No one in my family suffers from an age-related mental deficit and I won’t treat them like delicate invalids. (I may be 40, but I’d probably get slapped if I tried to patronize one of my elders.)
>>I *won’t* fall into the trap of treating the elderly like children. They are mature, intelligent, proud adults who’ve lived full lives and have decades of valuable experience. Someone thinks it’s wrong to “scare” Grandma? Well, “Grandma” is a woman grown who is perfectly capable of facing reality with wisdom and common sense.<<
Oh my Goodness, you are brilliant!
My BIL treats my FIL this way. The man was a VP of a major utility company, has all his facilities and can take care of himself. Yet the BIL micromanages his life. It’s sad.
And your family sounds like my Polish Family!
How do you not understand that there is no social security money left? My generation will not get what we paid in and I turn 50 in a few weeks.I would gladly tke both of our parents in if that is what needs to be done but I truly think that some of you should face up to the fact that in 1965 LBJ raided the trust fund and had it put into the general fund and now has even spent way beyond that keeping entitlemints rolling out. The moment that China says no more the whole house of cards come crashing.We ALL will have to sacarfice there is no way around it and to think that we will not have to is a complete fantasy.
LOL Yep “don’t trust anyone over 65!” ought to do it.;)
No that was the generation who was older than most of us Boomers were.I was 12 yo when RvW passed the oldest baby boomer were in their mid 20’s and hardly old enough to do much of anything yet. We get blamed for it but it was the older generation who was in power that did that.
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, but son-in-law’s appendix ruptured last night and things got a little hinkey around here. He's doing fine and we are all blessed by that.
God is good all the time, everyday! Blessings!
Oh my!
Prayers up!
Sorry I didn't come to that conclusion without you pointing my nose at it! Like I told netmilsmom, I am just furious everyday now with this administration and I'm not used to feeling that way.
So, I got froggy and hopped when I should have stayed on the lily pad! I apologize. You know best how to handle your mom. Mine, I have to handle with kid gloves.
So, Marie I extend the hand of apology and we'll all live to fight another day - but not each other. : )
You made my point for me when you stated that the trust fund was raided, Chris. It certainly was! It is that thievery and many other examples of thievery in our government that makes me go all “Howard Beal.”
And again, you are absolutely correct that if China decides to say no more or call in their notes....well you said it, it all comes crashing down.
I don't disagree with a thing that you've said. You are on point. There is no fantasy in my home. Only fear and anger as I watch the “shining city on the hill” and all it stood for under attack every single day.
Thank you so much. Just got back from hospital and he’s doing well.
Arrogant, opinionated, passionate, Germans all. I don't know how we manage it, but somehow every one of us always manages to be "right", even when we disagree. :-)
This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. There are thousands of programs out there funded by the federal government, just like this one while American citizens fret and stress over budgets and their retirement. Thousands. And that doesn't even start to address the redundancy in government workers, departments, etc....
This is what drives me everyday to get up and fight back any way that I can.
>>There are thousands of programs out there funded by the federal government, just like this one while American citizens fret and stress over budgets and their retirement. Thousands. And that doesn’t even start to address the redundancy in government workers, departments, etc....<<
And the AARP tells the Seniors that if they don’t vote dem, they will lose all they have.
Sad isn’t it?
Now it’s don’t trust anyone UNDER 30 - haha
“Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, U2 and the late Michael Jackson”
Besides being an idiot - this guy has TERRIBLE taste in music.
A has been folk singer, a blind guy wannabe Ray Charles, a never been folk singer, a band from Ireland, and a pedophile pop star are his signature musical selections from his generation?
Hilarious that the “never trust anyone over 30” generation is now hawking respect for elders.
Yeah, and it was Huffman-encoded at that!
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