Because at the End of the Day, We're Family

Taken from countless soap operas and radio advertisements.

One of those trite, hackneyed expressions that falls upon the ear with a dull, sickening thud. I say this because most folks think that it means the same thing to everyone. "Why, you're like family to me." For some of my friends and/or loved ones, that is not a compliment. It is a reminder of something horrible, horrifying, or just plain unhappy.

I left my biological home at 19. I was still in college, and I didn't earn much money. I lived poor for quite some time. And, as a person living poor for quite some time, I had to share what little I had with others so that my meager life(style) could go further. It's funny how at age 66 I seem to be able to stretch a dollar like no one's business; car fare is 35¢ on off hours, I can soak a cup of beans and make them last for seven to ten meals, I drive an energy-efficient compact car, and have no house staff.

I've never been comfortable around family... well, not around mine anyway. I don't share much with them because I don't want them coming after me with questions. And I also don't much care to make many inquiries of them. "So, what do you do ? Oh, you teach second grade. I remember second grade; we learned how to print upper- and lower-case letters."

Maybe they don't teach printing anymore. I know they don't teach cursive. And I'm pretty sure they don't teach touch typing either.

At the end of the day, I am not family with anyone or anything. No animals here and the few plants here are being held for my friends.

I'm sure there is more I want to write about this. Sometimes I just write a title in the entry title space so that I can reserve works in progress. They aren't complete thoughts or stories until I get to them.