Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Some People's Actions - or Lack Thereof - Are Outright Neglect

My elderly friend got saddled with two wild grandkids again today - ages 6 and 9. Expletives, wrecklesness and outright defiance come out of their mouths faster than and auctioneer's babble.

I called her this afternoon to check on her - as I do every day - sometimes 3-4 times a day. The sound of her voice told me she was in trouble.

Neighborhood brats had been banking on her mobile home, sending her dog into a frenzy while she struggled to breathe in the 96 degree heat. Three grandkids and one granddaughter's boyfriend had all promised to stop by and install a used air conditioner in her living room window. No one showed.

I loaded our spare air conditioner and tools in the car & off we went. It was 99 degrees inside her home! The hoodlums disapeared down the street & we got installation job done while she cried and ranted about her family's navel gazing.

After a cool drink I hooked her hose up and sprayed her rooftop. The heat was so intense today the air looked like a desert haze.

Other than hanging the new art exhibit and driving to our friend's home, we stayed inside eating watermelon and drinking lots of liquids. For weeks we've had flooding and electrical storms. Now the heat and humidity is killing people. Awhile ago police were searching for an elderly man in the woods to the north of us. He'd "gone off the deep end," grabbed his shotgun and left his cool home for the humidity and mosquitoes of tangled underbrush and rough terrain. Not likely to be a good outcome.

Half an hour ago I called my elderly friend. The monster grandkids are gone; her living room has three broken knicknacks; her dog is cowering beneath her bed and she's told their step dad not to bring them to her house tomorrow. He was told the same thing last night but chose to ignore her request and dropped the kids at the curb today.

Personnally, I would have locked my doors and called Protective Services. We offered to pick her up tomorrow so she could spend the afternoon here. She'll "think about it."

The situation really pisses me off. The woman has bend butt over backwards for her entire family for years but in her elderly years they can't be bothered with her needs.

Enough of a rant. I say anymore I'll be bitching out loud as I type.

Thank God we're still of sound mind and somewhat sound bodies. The least we can do is help her.

8 comments:

Kyddryn said...

Bless you, Mizz Treesong...I see it all the time, people ignoring their elder generations as inconvenient. Selfish, useless, rude, and abusive. Just wait until it's the youngsters turn!

You're a good woman.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Sixbears said...

Thank god for friends and strangers. They might give you a break. Sometimes family certainly won't.

Ya done good.

HermitJim said...

Families don't have any respect for their elders anymore!

Thank you for taking care of your friend...you'll earn some good karma for that, I'm sure!

debbieo said...

I am so glad your elderly friend at least has you to check on her and help her out. I am sure she really appreciates the a/c.
We live in our RV in south Texas. When you mentioned watering down her roof it caught my eye. Does that help cool the place down? I am wondering about putting a sprinkler up there. We are only 30 amp and the a/c is hopelessly unable to bring the inside temp down below 81 in the afternoon.

Mayberry said...

I see far too much of this kind of thing. Disgusting... Stay cool, we had record heat way down here too. Heat index close to 110 for a couple days. Nothing I'm not used to, just early is all. Don't usually see that 'til August! The sea breeze is our life saver here, inland folks really suffer...

Anonymous said...

Sometimes our friends are our best family we can have. Way to go you two and sorry you have to do that for her. They sound as if they could use some out loud cussing. B.

Anonymous said...

I figured it had to be more than the camera. :) B.

AutumnRose said...

Bless you, Treesong, for being the wonderful person you are!

I just don't know what's WRONG with people anymore--most don't give a second thought to elderly neighbors