You're Fired!

I've been fired before.  The most memorable was on Christmas Eve long ago.  The guy figured it would be cool to "ruin" my Christmas...not knowing that Jews don't celebrate the holiday.  But I do remember the event and the drive to the station to get the news.

Last night Mom fired me.  Something about the food, my attitude, my bride...the list got pretty long. 

"I'm going to call the attorney in the morning and have you removed from my affairs!"

And, who will take up those duties?

"I have ways..."

That of course was last evening.  Today the realization started to sink in starting with, "Who is going to take me to the bathroom?"

The rabbis say the hardest commandment to keep is the 5th...to "Honor your Father and your Mother."  I can attest to the fact of their wisdom and daily remind myself of this particular mitzvah.

Getting old...old, old is tough.  Losing independence, memory issues, health...all are frustrating and sometimes that frustration comes out in lashing at "the hand that feeds you".

I get it...but I also understand the stress from a care-giver standpoint.

Which leads me to wonder why in heaven's name our state sucks when it comes to paying direct care-givers a live-able wage.  We talk about how "precious" our older population is but when we "warehouse" them in institutions we've decided the burden on paying for their care is just too much to handle.

The State of Iowa should look to the 5th Commandment...first.

And...so it goes. 

Comments

[Jim Edwards]

You're a better son than most. Today the focus of our adoration is of all things youthful! Elders are an inconvenient nuisance that must be tolerated since we can't take them to the waste station once their useful time is done.
Getting older sucks, and while we have no recourse for this, I've decided I will not grow up!! Care to join me?!
Best wishes and prayers for mom and you.

[T]

Great topic!
/Todd D. At IDC

[Bruce Stone]

Good Stuff Michael! Sheila and I send our best wishes and hopes that it gets somewhat easier.

Bruce