Elder Ignore

I sometimes wish I were Chinese or Chippewa where elders are revered, instead of ignored as we Americans do. At a recent gathering of younger people, parents of small children, I just sat in a chair out of traffic. The only person who spoke to me was a 3-year-old who planted himself in front of me and said, "HI!" When I complained about the lavishing of presents (privately) and expressed the wish that some of that money could better be spent giving to charities, I was chastized and told, "You don't know these people," to which I replied, "They don't bother to know me, so I feel like fifth wheel." I live among a lot of people whose kids are lucky to get one toy from the Salvation Army, and even the SA's kettle giving in this area was down $17,000 this year. Those at the gathering called my area _____Tucky, which really hurt my feelings. I have apologized for making a family member angry, and have not heard from that family member since Xmas.

I am a reasonably intelligent, well-read person, and have much to share in just about any group of people, if only they'd just not assume that I am a dumb old 72-year-old, to be tolerated. It hurts a lot to be ignored