Lil
Well-Known Member
Not a whole lot has happened since the family reunion fiasco, but thought I'd update you all. I actually hesitated to do it...seems like when I say something is going well it immediately falls apart. Of course, I don't know that I'd call this "well", so maybe there's no jinx involved.
After our son went back to the girl's town, she put him up in a hotel for a couple days and then next thing we knew he was in another town a couple hours away. Weren't sure why for a bit, but apparently he and she moved in with her mother, brother and a roommate. They now both have a job at a factory, graveyard shift (11p.m.-7a.m.), where the roommate works so they ride with her. They started Tuesday night. He called and asked if I'd send him money for white t-shirts, since he owns nothing that isn't black and he's required to wear white (it's a food-related job). I didn't send money, but offered to buy on Wal-Mart.com and he could pick them up. That's happening today. He had borrowed a shirt for a day but called last night asking me to place the order.
Of course, he also had to have one of his mini-rants, saying how he hates his job and wants to quit - AFTER ONE SHIFT
- but can't because "there are no other jobs here" (possible, it's pretty rural). He asked me to add nail clippers to the order since he lost his and no one in the house owns nail clippers because they all bite their nails and just tell him to do that too. He claimed they have no food at all. Apparently the mother and brother get SSI for, but "blow the money" and don't buy food that will last. He complained there are no food pantries. He said he's witnessed "this fat woman" literally drink a bowl of gravy. He said he's been eating dry cereal because that's all there is. He said they'd just gotten paid and would buy the groceries tonight, but "it'll all be gone in 3 days".
I'm torn between being a bit insulted about the "fat woman" remark...but I'd never drink gravy
and amused while somewhat disgusted with him. I find it kind of funny that HE is complaining about how other people live and that maybe he's seeing how good he had it everywhere he's ever been. But it's kind of disgusting that HE looks down on other people - calling THEM stupid or bad with money - when HE'S always blown money like dandelion seeds and they're putting a roof over his head and food in his belly - poor as it may be - without him contributing a dime. I really can't get passed the mentality that doesn't want to work, but complains if what he's given isn't good enough. He even told his grandma, "I know lots of people who don't work and they get along just fine."
I did buy the t-shirts and clippers and otherwise told him, "Well you'll just have to suck it up about the job. The sooner the two of you have money the sooner you can get a place of your own." I wondered - but did NOT ask - where the girl's $900 savings went.
But enough about him. Jabber and I have made peace with his parents, who are no longer upset with anyone but their daughters (HEE! HEE! HEE! HEE!) and have now booked a lovely little house on a lake in Arkansas for Labor Day weekend! Four days of fishing, relaxing by the lake and visiting friends...No internet and I fully intend to leave my phone in the house. Not taking a chance of dropping my brand new, obscenely expensive phone in the lake...yeah...that's why I'm leaving it.
We also have a vacation booked leaving Christmas Day for Vegas. I think it's high time we lived our lives.
It's much simpler with our son away. I admit to being still a bit worried and tense about going without cell phone. It's that "just in case" thing. But I'm getting better.
After our son went back to the girl's town, she put him up in a hotel for a couple days and then next thing we knew he was in another town a couple hours away. Weren't sure why for a bit, but apparently he and she moved in with her mother, brother and a roommate. They now both have a job at a factory, graveyard shift (11p.m.-7a.m.), where the roommate works so they ride with her. They started Tuesday night. He called and asked if I'd send him money for white t-shirts, since he owns nothing that isn't black and he's required to wear white (it's a food-related job). I didn't send money, but offered to buy on Wal-Mart.com and he could pick them up. That's happening today. He had borrowed a shirt for a day but called last night asking me to place the order.
Of course, he also had to have one of his mini-rants, saying how he hates his job and wants to quit - AFTER ONE SHIFT
- but can't because "there are no other jobs here" (possible, it's pretty rural). He asked me to add nail clippers to the order since he lost his and no one in the house owns nail clippers because they all bite their nails and just tell him to do that too. He claimed they have no food at all. Apparently the mother and brother get SSI for, but "blow the money" and don't buy food that will last. He complained there are no food pantries. He said he's witnessed "this fat woman" literally drink a bowl of gravy. He said he's been eating dry cereal because that's all there is. He said they'd just gotten paid and would buy the groceries tonight, but "it'll all be gone in 3 days".I'm torn between being a bit insulted about the "fat woman" remark...but I'd never drink gravy
and amused while somewhat disgusted with him. I find it kind of funny that HE is complaining about how other people live and that maybe he's seeing how good he had it everywhere he's ever been. But it's kind of disgusting that HE looks down on other people - calling THEM stupid or bad with money - when HE'S always blown money like dandelion seeds and they're putting a roof over his head and food in his belly - poor as it may be - without him contributing a dime. I really can't get passed the mentality that doesn't want to work, but complains if what he's given isn't good enough. He even told his grandma, "I know lots of people who don't work and they get along just fine." I did buy the t-shirts and clippers and otherwise told him, "Well you'll just have to suck it up about the job. The sooner the two of you have money the sooner you can get a place of your own." I wondered - but did NOT ask - where the girl's $900 savings went.
But enough about him. Jabber and I have made peace with his parents, who are no longer upset with anyone but their daughters (HEE! HEE! HEE! HEE!) and have now booked a lovely little house on a lake in Arkansas for Labor Day weekend! Four days of fishing, relaxing by the lake and visiting friends...No internet and I fully intend to leave my phone in the house. Not taking a chance of dropping my brand new, obscenely expensive phone in the lake...yeah...that's why I'm leaving it.
We also have a vacation booked leaving Christmas Day for Vegas. I think it's high time we lived our lives. It's much simpler with our son away. I admit to being still a bit worried and tense about going without cell phone. It's that "just in case" thing. But I'm getting better.
about us going incommunicado.
