Reply #30: The Great Bratwurst Battle is looming! Nürnberg vs. St. Gallen! [View All]

[tango-tee]

Thanks for the smile, Wesley!

My what is now termed "family of origin" is here in Germany, but my son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter live in Texas. They are doing well, T-Man and Chas are madly in love and my grandbaby is a treasure. I am so happy for the close-knit family they've grown into.

Yes, the social relief folks come by Mom's house twice a day to take care of her medical problems. Still, what lies ahead worries me more. Since my sister has never worked, she is not even registered to receive minimal retirement benefits. She is now 50 years old, and my parents have paid for everything all of her adult years - apartment, daily living expenses, whatever. The big mistake they made was to not force her to take on a job, any job, to support herself when she couldn't find work in her field as an art historian. Hell, I've known cab drivers who were trained as geologists or marine biologists. They started driving cabs to support themselves. But my parents never thought it was necessary for my sister to take on such "menial" work. And we're certainly not from moneyed stock - Dad was a railroad engineer and Mom was a housewife.

Shortly before his death I asked Dad what he thought would become of my sister after he was gone. He looked at me and said, "Well, she'll always have you to turn to". I was floored.

The chickens are coming home to roost now. It is not a pleasant situation.