Saturday, January 31, 2009

You Can Lead A Horse To Water...

But you can't make it drink, or anything else unless it's so inclined.

Likewise with people.

These past few days have been a real education (mainly on my part) regarding that old adage. "Family" continue to arrive to visit Sweetie's mother during her last days. And, they bring all their baggage with them...old wounds, unsettled family disputes, anger, fear, resentment, worry, addictions and just plain ignorance.

As Sweetie's mother is dying, it seems that the family is unravelling. One granddaughter's son delayed her arrival because he had an "incident" and was diagnosed as bi-polar. A grandson wrecked his car and was ticketed for speeding and intoxication (third offense). He keeps calling his mom up here complaining that he doesn't have any wheels (but not asking about his great-grandmother). Another grandson and his wife took off on a cruise but called to say, "Maybe she'll be here when we return, maybe not. Doesn't really matter cause we've hired a lawyer in anticipation of getting screwed!"

I stand here shaking my head in disbelief and Sweetie says, "They've always been this way. It's one drama after another."

What an incredible waste! The whole bloody world is going to hell in a handbasket and they're caught up in who said or did what and "please pick me up a few more beers."

My last dose of this insanity was 7: p.m. Sweetie's cousin - the only one who's come over here and asked about prepping - introduced me to two of her sisters: "This is Suzann, the prepper. We've eaten her food for two days. It's great!" One says, "Well, goody, goody for you. Who gives a shit if you've got food. I want food I'll go buy it." She lost her job Thursday and has remained drunk. I'm told it's her usual condition.

Her other sister laughs and says, "If I lived in Bum F----- Egypt I'd be worried about what I was gonna eat. You're 10 miles in the middle of nowhere what else is there to do?" This sister has a good job but has lost her home, declared bankrupcy for the third time in 30 years and is forever visiting the doctor for some real or imagined ailment.

After the whole room went silent I just smiled. Then I took a step forward, lowered my voice and enunciated clearly and slowly...

"Well, the next time either of you have to borrow money for gas, or food, or beer, or cigarettes, tell me how well you take care of yourself."

Then I came home.

Sanity and Peace reside here and I much prefer it to ignorance, complacency and laziness. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority!

7 comments:

Mayberry said...

People suck... I really feel for you Tree, hang in there, hopefully it'll be over with soon.....

HermitJim said...

And the BEST one out of the bunch, I'm thinking! More power to ya, my friend!

I've got your back...count on it!

Anonymous said...

ou have to cut them off, Treesong. They are parasites and will empty your wallet and larder. Then where will you be...

treesong said...

The whole crew next door is leaving today so we'll have some peace! This morning we stopped there to say hello/goodbye and ONE of the sisters (who had been drunk) apologized for her comments.

They're returning home because they have spouses and kids to care for and two are going job hunting until Grandma dies.

In the meantime we have Sweetie's son, which is a whole nother story that I won't go into. Suffice to say he's looking for sympathy because he's suffering the consequences of bad decisions. His father gave him a lecture when he picked him up from the bus station and everytime he starts to complain, one of us says, "You're doing it again!"

Unfortunately, I think all of us in the prepper world are going to experience or hear about these kinds of people as the economy unravels further.

Leeches are always hungry!!!

barefoot gardener said...

Woot! Good for you, shutting them down like that...

vlad said...

If SHTF those freeloaders will brush aside your objections, throw themselves on your stored food with glad cries and settle in for you to feed and wait on them hand and foot.

When the moment of truth arrives will Sweetie shoot to protect your stored food.?

One year food for two might be
twelve days food for the hungry clan.

Love means I care what happens to you. I'll kill to protect the stored food for me and my family.

BTW the young lady with child at your door offering to do anything for food for her child is the bait. You won't see the man with the rifle. Bet your ass he'll see you in his scope.

vlad said...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=153978

This nice man told two good friends that they and their families could stop at his house. They told their good friends. More than thirty people threw themselves on his stored foods with glad cries and ate it all in TWO DAYS.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=153978

when there is no more food to buy and his kids are hungry? what then? ........ duh ......