Showing posts with label illness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illness. Show all posts
Lottery Woes

Can you imagine scratching off a lottery ticket and finding that you have won a half million dollars? Can you imagine? Of course, you wouldn't believe it, so you would ask the lottery clerk to check it for you, wouldn't you? That's what happened to a poor 69 year old retiree from Wellington, Florida last Wednesday.

The clerk ran it through her machine and confirmed that he was a winner and gave him the address for the local Palm Beach office of the Florida State Lottery Board to cash the ticket. He put it in his pocket for safekeeping.

That's where it all started going wrong. He got lost on his way to the Lottery office. He stopped at a convenience store to get directions. He finally found the office. But when he got there, the ticket was no longer in his pocket. He can't find it. He backtracked, but it was fruitless. It is gone. Did I mention that he didn't sign it, so anyone that finds it can cash it, legally?

Wow, is that not the saddest story ever? He thought his prayers had been answered. You see, he's in danger of losing his home. His wife has been ill for years, and that has drained their savings. They live on Social Security.

You know--as broke as I am, I would like to think that if I found it, I would return the ticket to the old guy. He's hoping the same...

Your comments--priceless!!

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The Halfway Point

So, here's a sobering thought. Today, July 2nd, at precisely noon, 2009 will be exactly halfway over. By then, you should have completed at least half of your goals for this year. The biggest news stories of the year so far involve Obama, the economy, and the passing of Michael Jackson.

My personal headlines include blogging, illness, work woes, and the passing of 2 dear family members. I've fallen way off pace to make all of my 2009 goals, but I haven't given up. In fact, I'm reminded that my personal plan may not be God's plan for my life. Acceptance is key.

What about you? Are you on pace to complete those tasks and resolutions that you planned for this year? If you didn't, why not? And what will you do now--give up or regroup? Tell me about it.

Your comments--priceless!!

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Adult Child Obligations

Ok, here's a question--When does your obligation to your child end? When are you officially "done" with them? When are you RID of them?

Here's the scenario. Your adult child(which you share with an ex-spouse) has a debilitating illness. She is incapacitated. She can not care for herself. She needs constant care. This illness struck her as an adult, after she had started on a career path in another state. Your ex-spouse moves to that state to care for the child. They manage. Suddenly, that ex-spouse passes away. Your adult child is left with no one to care for her. She can not afford funeral expenses, much less the fabulous home that her other parent has provided for her. While she is surrounded by friends, she really has no family within thousands of miles to help her with funeral arrangements, decisions, finances, etc.

Before you respond, let me tell you how this would work in MY family, as dysfunctional as we are. In my family, if the adult child in the scenario were ME, this is what would happen. After I made the call that my parent had passed away suddenly, my living parent would rally the troops. There would be a convoy of planes, trains, trucks, cars, bicycles, and skateboards coming out of the Washington, DC area (and other places), headed to me. I wouldn't care if I was in the North Pole. I have family members that would set out walking, if there was no other way. Neither of my parents would say, "Look, you are an adult. I have fulfilled my obligation to you. I'm sorry about your mother passing-let me know when the funeral is and I will try to make it. But please understand, my obligation now is to my new wife. I hope everything works out for you."

What the heck?????? Again, I can't imagine either of my parents saying this to me. This is so far fetched in my world, that it may as well be a cartoon. I also have an adult child. I can't imagine turning my back on her. Of course she makes me angry at times, but simply to wash my hands of her and not look back is unthinkable. But after thinking about it, I've decided that perhaps my family is the exception and not the rule. So I ask again, "When does your "obligation" to your child run out?

Your comments--priceless!!

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Wash Your Hands

So, the media has induced a panic surrounding Swine Flu. Every few years, there's some sort of flu epidemic--Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Hong Kong Flu, SARS.

I won't panic. I won't go out and buy masks for the family. I don't even need to go buy hand sanitizer, as we use it regularly and have it on hand already.

The smartest thing that you can do for yourself and your loved ones is wash your hands frequently and/or use an alcohol based hand sanitzer. Pretty simple. Keep your hands clean and refrain from touching other folks.

We will be okay. This, too, shall pass....
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