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
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2 comments:
of course the inuit elders volunteer to be set afloat on ice floes when they are no longer useful
What a great idea! I would gladly check out when I considered myself no longer useful. It's much more humane than being shipped off to some torture chamber nursing home. When I was a kid (when Noah got off the Ark) Grandma lived with us until she died, and never was considered useless. In 21st Century America, we just can't be bothered.
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