Just recently theKid told me I smelled “sus.”
I have no idea what that means.
That’s not entirely true … word comprehension is important, and “sus” is modern-speak for “suspicious” … as in Among Us “sus.”
See, I’m hip. I’m down. I’m funky. Extremely so, apparently (heh).
Anyhoo theKid’s comment provoked a thought … about the generational divide, and the debts we owe.
Bear with me here (or not … byy-yyyeeee)
Not monetary debts, but the debts we owe to each other, to (some) other humans, to our parents, to our progeny.
There’s a significant timeline between me and theKid … older parent, only (lonely?) child … and I recently just realized (late, I know — kinda slow) that I owe a debt to my child, and a massive one, at that.
Every parent owes their child a debt of responsibility. No one asked to be born (if so, answer may have been no) and the product of a parent’s decision owns the rights to responsible, prudent parenting.
May have mentioned amongst these parts that while growing up, my parents didn’t provide much education in the form of financial literacy, and that’s a price I pay today, with compounding interest.
Not to blame them but to blame them, had I received serious instruction re the actual costs of living, I might have just committed suicide at 15— no, not really, but death is the only escape from taxes.
And even then, the IRS might exhume your body. For testing. And verification (heebie-meet-jeebie)
Half was brought up differently, and Half’s money = mindset still manifests to this day. Much smarter, safer, stronger with money than I am, and Half’s early education has been a benefit not just to Half, but to our family.
theKid would not have a house but for Half.
theKid would not have private school but for Half.
theKid would not enjoy present lifestyle if not for Half.
I’d probably be either an apartment dweller or perhaps even vehicle-sheltered (if lucky) or maybe cardboard box town (if really not).
Recently read a BuzzFeed topic about the realities of not having shelter, and how expensive it really is … no place to store food, so everything must be killed (bought/given/dumpster-dived) and immediately eaten … forget winter/everyone cares about winter/but the heat, and no way to escape it/100°+ maybe but ≤99° SOL all over you/ … being forced to wander exhausted all day if working nights bc shelters are shut from 6am – 8pm …
Really forces one to consider just how blessed one is, when considering the conditions of others.
If I’m driving solo and see a homeless person with a dog (never a cat – notice that? Cats are the women of the world … if you can’t provide, watch ‘er slide) on the side of the road/on the offramp I give money. Never do it when riding with Half (Half will fuss and shrill at me for doing so) but I always feel a little guilty when I see a homeless dog person, like … they are better people, and really don’t deserve this.
[Slight digress but not really … a homeless guy was offered an apartment but declined because he couldn’t keep his dog … said the dog had been with him during the bad times, deserved a place to live for the good times … later ended up getting a place that accepted pets … feels, all the feels]
Maybe, maybe not. But I really do believe there’s enough food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and purpose to go around for all 7.5-8B of us, if not for the resource-hoarders.
Masters of mankind, indeed. Masters of misery, more like it. {Luke 18:25}
Maybe our debt isn’t solely to our kids, but to each other.
Hunh. Going to have to chew on that. But – blessedly – with steak, at a table, in a house, with A/C, that Half built.
GOD is good, all the time. GOD is great, everyday. Peace