NEWS: One of the Saddest Stories Ever

I think I'm going to send cards to my grandparents tomorrow.
And now I want to send one to the old Italian guy too.

All 4 of my grandparents and 1 step-grandparent have died a number of years ago. I never meet any of my blood related grandfathers. I would love to have "adopted" this man and have him be part of my family.

I'd adopt a grandfather for free. My paternal grandfather died before I was born, and my maternal grandfather died when I was five. I miss having that presence in my life.

I get so sad when I read about lonely, elderly people. Dammit. I wish I could adopt all of them.

we were just talking about this in my sociology class today. suicide and depression increase as people get older due to retirement and loss of people they love. this is sad, though the only thing sadder is if this guy would have gotten ANY replies had he not offered to pay the people. i realize there are some good people out there who say they would do it for free, but i'm not sure how many actually would. i hope the guy ends up happy though and i have to complement him for trying to do something about his loneliness.

That's what makes me sad, in my profile. Achewood is funny. .

On another note, I would love my own old italian guy..

[Edited on Aug 31, 2004 by MrStitches]

damn, that sort of melts my cold heart. a little.


on a sort of parallel discussion regarding this story, i think its rad he had the courage to admit he was lonely.

lonliness has such a stigma attached to it, especially here in the US. people are convinced there's something terribly wrong with you if you even hint to someone that you'd like a little company. they just can't fathon anyone admitting to being lonely and it not being becasue something is gravely out of whack. somehow, lonliness has become a stigma, just like being ederly, which of couse means the ederly have double social pariah-ness to deal with.

i'm headed home to TX for a few days and i fully intend to go see my grandfather and spend as much time with my dad as possible. thanks, threwad.




-pb

[Edited on Aug 31, 2004 5:16PM]

[Edited on Aug 31, 2004 5:17PM]

BTW (and at the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card) dont forget to make a point of telling people you care about (like your grandparents) how much you care. You never know when thier time is up and nothings worse than the feeling when someone you love dies without you having been able to tell them you care.
Maybe they should have an 'adopt-a-grandparent' day!

I feel sorry for the elderly people who have to take jobs at taco bells, mcdonalds, and best buys where some punk kid that is 18 treats them like crap. I have seen that so many times. They have so much more to offer than do you want fries with that.

A few people said that this was a sad story: Have any of you done anything to help out old people in your community?

That sounds harsher than I mean it to. I know a lot of people are too busy. But there are some people who have the time, and who would enjoy doing something to help others. I have no idea how volunteering works over there. If anyone in the UK wants some hints and tips let me know.

I have zero free time to help out, though I would love to. I also have no money to donate to places that could.

I did, however, stand by my statement above and mailed cards to my grandparents the next day. They were absolutely thrilled and it made me feel just wonderful as well.

Many years ago I read an article about life in Japan. Extended families were no longer living under one roof or even in the same city. Older people who could not get time with their children and grandchildren could "rent" a family for a day. The door bell would ring in the morning and an enthusiastic "family" of actors depicting husband, wife and 2 children would take "grandma" and "granpa" out for a day of activities.

I'm sure this was expensive since the outing would be pre-paid including meals and any admissions.