Journal Journal: ergh, family, y'know?
ever wonder why some people can be unfailingly polite to strangers, yet whilst 'conversing' with family members the most cutting comments and condescending attitudes come pouring forth? hmmmm. Me too.
What's going on? Well, let's see now... a few weeks ago, my father-in-law ( heretofore referred to as FIL) went into the hospital twice in one week, once for an apparent angina attack, and the second for what appeared to be another heart-attack. after tests were performed, including a CAT scan, it was discovered that he had had two strokes. The doctor then insisted that not only would FIL be admitted to the hospital, but that in no way would they release him to live alone after that, which is what FIL had been doing up to this point. blahblahblah.
Backstory - Sister-In-Law (SIL) quit living with him, claiming he was playing games and messing things up, two weeks after saying ( and there's witnesses to this) that she wouldn't leave him. heh, whatever. Now she claims she stopped doing so for 'health reasons'. Again, heh, whatever.
Anyhoo, back to the rant at hand.
SIL's apoplectic rants and raves at various gov't agencies (some deserved) gets on my nerves. I try to calm things down, she shouldn't be this upset around her Dad, etc. She stomps on me, she and my wife know him best, blahblahblah and generally shuts me down, also implying that since I'm so much younger (more on this later) my opinions and attempts at playing devil's Advocate and oh, I don't know, REASONING THINGS OUT RATIONALLY don't really count and that I should just shut the hell up.
Me? Steamed? Yes.
Does it again the other day. Says that Wife and I jumped the gun on some things, FIL may yet come home, yadayadayada. Refers to us as 'those kids'.
Hmmm. Kids? Fuck you? Yes.
Hard to adequately depict how old-before-her-time SIL is. has worked for the gov't herself for almost 30 years. I have known other people who have worked in government service for long periods of time. She works for Corrections. when she talks to me (when necessary/convenient)she either talks to me like a truant boy or a convict. The other gov't types I talked to were the same way. if they say jump, you MUST ask 'how high'.
Hmmm. Fuck you? Yes.
Anyway, anything that upsets her worldview, her schedule (such as it is)or virtually anything else tends to bring out GRUMPY OLD FART MODE. FIL's outlook on life is rosier than SIL's is. Is that not fucked up? Thanks,I thought so. Do I need to be her punching bag? No. Can I say anything to her about it? No. apparently, being married to Wife does not entitle me to have an opinion or be able to do anything about Family. Lovely.
Why am I ranting about this? Because my Wife is on the verge of yet another breakdown ( her mother and sister both died of Cancer within two years of each other) and her sister's distinct inability to deal effectively with the rest of the human race is wearing her down. it's hard to deal with someone who seemingly talks to everyone as if they're a convict.
