Justin Case: This'n'That; November 9th[Vultures]

The Vultures-Plus One Day

There they were-like vultures sitting in the trees, waiting to fight over the carrion; to take for their own use-items they had no sentimental attachment to nor financial investment in!!

Let me set the stage, here..... We're talking about a family of two parents and five children. The parents, hard workers-both, managed to keep the family in "hearth and home" until they left the nest.

"Mister"... one of those guys that could "talk a leg off a chair;" had a compassion for the work-a-day folks and most furry animals. Mister passed away in the late 1990s.
"Missus".... [to me] seemed like one of those ladies who didn't brook most pointless conversations; protected her young brood; worked part-time when necessary; lived an independent life in her later years; frugal, but not a penny-pincher. She passed away a couple of months ago after failing to recover from a broken hip.

Both had their shortcomings which in some cases, were visited upon their children. Ah... THE children!!

Daughter One: "Typhoid Mary" She enjoys pretending to be on the near-fringes of the social elite. She dragged her anti-social husband to the "festivities."
Daughter Two: "Ann-A-Rexic" She subconsciously enjoys being subjected to the persecutions of husband "Buzzy." All remedial advice falls on deaf ears. Thank GAWD, HER husband wasn't available!!
Daughter Three: "The Young Miss Lovely" She's one who is a friend to the deserving; started at a young age helping Mother both in the kitchen and raising her brothers. She put her life on hold for the last 10-15 years to ensure her mother would NEVER see the inside of a nursing home!!
Son One: "Slick-Willie" I've used this term for years to describe America's 42nd president, which I now realize denegrates the former president-but aptly applies to Son One!! When parental help is needed, he has other plans; when there's a free meal, he's there-trailed by his XL wife and morbidly obese daughter-with knife and fork at the ready!!
Son Two: [No nickname...] As with Daughter Three, truely a fine person!! He--again like Daughter Three--put his life on hold for these past many years to ensure his mother was well taken care of. While he rarely "measured up" in his father's eyes, he NEVER STOPPED ensuring that BOTH had access to any and everything they needed... including his love!!

NOW, the crux of the matter: [To understand the story, one has to realize that the children with the definite exception of Daughter Three and Son Two, didn't "gave a rat's ass" what happened to their parents, unless there was a benefit to them, either financial gain or "cast-off" glory; "Oh, my dad was such a wonderful man"....or..... "my mother was a budding artist who gave it all up to be with my father"..... crap like that!!] Son Two was made the executor of his mother's estate. My guess is that he was designated as such due to his unequivocal honesty and his refusal to be swayed by or "take any shit," from anyone!! ...much to the chagrin of Son One!! Practically from the moment they graduated from high school, the "tyrannical trio" ignored their parents... unless.... they needed money or a shoulder to cry on; they always had "somewhere else to be" at holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. Hence, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEIR OWN PARENTS!!!!

Now we arrive at Sunday, November 8, 2009. The relatives--children and grandchildren--were given the opportunity to come to the house and pick out items they wanted that had meaning to their parents. The grandchildren knew more about their grandmother the tyrannical trio did!! The trio went for monetary value over sentimental value.... "Where did Mom get this?? Whadd'ya think it's worth??" [Son One's mate and I stood apart, wanting to shout: "Ya dumb bitch.... If ya ever showed up at Christmas Dinner, ya'd know who gave it to her, and what it's importance to her was!!!" ...or.... "No, ya dumb bastard... ya can't have that TV, Son Two gave it to mom..... Where were YOU when she needed something??] We also stood aside and watched while Daughter Three and Son Two bit their tongues to keep from screaming at their siblings!! Finally, the day ended; the carrion was in the back seat or in the truck bed and the vultures went back to "their home trees" to preen and gloat over their ill-gotten gains!!! GAWD!! This is depressing to put into words!!