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Christopher

Christopher

Portland, OR
November 2002

AUG 31, 2004 05:00 AM

I have no idea what Giorgio Angelozzi looks like, but I want him to be my grandfather. His wife died in 1992 and he lives in Milan with his seven cats. The 79-year-old man was so lonely that he promised $600 dollars a month to the family that would adopt him as their grandfather. He placed an ad in the Corriere della Sera that said:

"Elderly retired school teacher seeks family willing to adopt grandfather. Will pay."

Angelozzi has gotten dozens of replies across the country, including one from his former student: singer Antonello Venditti.

"So many families want to adopt me as their grandfather," said Angelozzi who promised $600 a month to the family who took him in. "So many families answered my appeal and want me to teach their children and their grandchildren about Horace and Catullus. […]

"I was not expecting so much warmth, so much interest in my story," Angelozzi told Corriere on Monday. "But remember that my problem is one that affects so many elderly people in Italy."

Yuriel

Yuriel

I'm lost
January 2004

AUG 31, 2004 05:16 AM

Thats so sad frown
If i didnt already have two id ship him over HERE and adopt him. just because frown
*sends best wishes*

Deathhippie

Deathhippie

San Diego, CA
April 2003

AUG 31, 2004 05:54 AM

that is really sad. frown

HellsBelle

HellsBelle

Newport News, VA
August 2004

AUG 31, 2004 06:19 AM

awww...

wAxlips

wAxlips

Prospect Park, PA
April 2004

AUG 31, 2004 06:51 AM

I hope I have somebody when I'm that age....that is depressing.

McBane13

McBane13

I'm lost
April 2004

AUG 31, 2004 07:01 AM

I don't know.......

$600.00 Dollars doesn't cover changing diapers.


tongue smile

kafeesuechtige

kafeesuechtige

Berkeley, CA
November 2003

AUG 31, 2004 07:02 AM

Maybe it could spawn a new movement, adopting grandparents. This culture, as well as many other western cultures, has too harsh an attitude when it comes to discarding the elderly.

It's like that Simpsons episode, when Bart goes to the old folks home and tells the receptionist "I'm here to see grandpa", and abotu 30 old guys stick their heads out of their door, hoping its a visit for them.

[Edited on Aug 31, 2004 7:02AM]

dAHMER

dahmer

South Vienna, OH
OLD SKOOL

AUG 31, 2004 07:20 AM

Well, it's not that sad. He got several responses for his ad. smile

D

D

Pittsburgh, PA
January 2003

AUG 31, 2004 07:25 AM

There is a story in one of the books I teach about an agency in Japan where you can rent a family to hang out with you.

The story said what equals out to about $1000 for three hours. You pick the family members you want to roll in, they come and do whatever, and then they leave. The story was about a grandmother who wanted people there for her birthday.

Yeah...definitely sad.

MisterSatan

MisterSatan

Portland, OR
August 2002

AUG 31, 2004 07:27 AM

It's sad, but it's not the saddest thing.

Rannie

Rannie

Brooklyn, NY
July 2004

AUG 31, 2004 08:13 AM

MisterSatan said:
It's sad, but it's not the saddest thing.



AHAHAHA
biggrin

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

AUG 31, 2004 08:21 AM

Lonely old Japanese people frown frown



Loneliness

Echio Sato is 81 years-old. She lives with her son and his family but they do not talk to her, or involve her in family life.

And she cannot afford to move to a retirement home.

She weeps every day.

"My food is left in the kitchen for me and I eat on my own... I would like to be happy for just one hour a day."



frown frown frown frown frown



With its population ageing faster than any other country, Japan is faced with a dramatic rise in the number of suicidal and depressed elderly.

"Suicide has become a national epidemic," the Japanese Government announced after the number of people taking their own lives reached an all time high of 30,000 in one year.

Kayla

Kayla

Dublin, CA
June 2003

AUG 31, 2004 08:40 AM

frown i'd do it for free

TheRedBaron

TheRedBaron

Cambridge, MA
November 2003

AUG 31, 2004 08:56 AM

Kayla said:
frown i'd do it for free



oh man, so would i.
I havent had a proper grandfather in AGES.

Dr_Zoidberg

Dr_Zoidberg

Raymore, MO
June 2004

AUG 31, 2004 09:28 AM

wAxlips said:
I hope I have somebody when I'm that age....that is depressing.


I hope not to live that long.

StudentDriver

StudentDriver

Greenwood, IN
June 2004

AUG 31, 2004 09:31 AM

I believe the elderly Italian mentioned at the beginning has no family (thus his wish for an adoptive one), so it's not as if he's being ill-treated by family as the Japanese woman mentioned above. Her situation is not just loneliness, it's abuse.

Sad all 'round, though. The "orphaned" elderly thing happens a lot here in America; anyone who's in a service position (waiter, sales clerk, etc.) has stories about lonely old people who come in for hours every day simply to have someone to talk to, people to be around. I'm afraid that's to be my lot in another half-century.

llouys

llouys

Brazil
August 2003

AUG 31, 2004 10:00 AM

This sort of thing is going to be a huge problem in the US, too. It already is. We have really sharp dividing lines between age groups -- think about it: what's college all about? It about going off to a place where 99% of the people you interact with are within 4 years of your own age.

I dunno, it seems pretty shortsighted to me.

Grayce

Grayce

I'm lost
February 2004

AUG 31, 2004 10:26 AM

everyone go talk to your grandparents.. they need you.

MisterSatan

MisterSatan

Portland, OR
August 2002

AUG 31, 2004 10:29 AM

Grayce said:
everyone go talk to your grandparents.. they need you.


This is the best thing I've heard all day.

smile

CrackRockColin

CrackRockColin

Atlanta, GA
March 2004

AUG 31, 2004 10:30 AM

old people, the scourge of humanity

reprobate

reprobate

New Orleans, LA
December 2002

AUG 31, 2004 10:35 AM

Grayce said:
everyone go talk to your grandparents.. they need you.



And someday you won't be able to.

clara

clara

MODERATOR

Baltimore, MD

AUG 31, 2004 10:47 AM

reprobate said:

Grayce said:
everyone go talk to your grandparents.. they need you.


And someday you won't be able to.


it's a sad day when it finally happens to you. i have one living grandparent, but she disowned me before i was born, so it's like having none at all.

i don't think this guy's story is sad at all, it's inspiring. he knew he needed something to be happy and he went out and got it for himself and probably helped a bunch of other lonely old people get noticed at the same time. the money aspect feels a bit sad, but i'll bet that when he finds the perfect family for him they won't accept his money after all.

we're all making up our families all the time. i don't know about you guys, but i've got two women i call mom, i pretend jerry orbach is my dad, and i've got any number of friends who fill in for the brothers and sisters i don't have.

Mineux

Mineux

HOPEFUL

Torrance, CA

AUG 31, 2004 01:11 PM



we're all making up our families all the time. i don't know about you guys, but i've got two women i call mom, i pretend jerry orbach is my dad, and i've got any number of friends who fill in for the brothers and sisters i don't have.



I totally agree....sis? wink

Projecta119

Projecta119

Stewartstown, PA
January 2004

AUG 31, 2004 01:34 PM

I think it's a great story... I mean.. he's a lonely guy.. people responded.. and this will probably bring attention to the fact that elderly everywhere are just hangin' out with nothing to do and no one to love.... It's a little sad, but happy ending... just like it's supposed to be! I guess it's not so bad to be a human today.... ooo aaa

Kayla

Kayla

Dublin, CA
June 2003

AUG 31, 2004 01:36 PM

I'm going home on thursday and I haven't seen either grandma in almost a year. (but one of them hates me so screw her).

I'm gonna give the nice one a big hug on Thursday.

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