I have 3 brothers.
Dan: age 67
Jerry: age 64
Joe: age 59
Dan: Very well off financially. Has a million dollar home. Retired in Idaho.
Jerry: Very well off financially. Has a home valued at $500,000. Lives 3 miles away from our mom.
Joe: Doesn't even earn $25,000 a year. Doesn't own a home. Rents mobile home from brother Jerry. Takes care of our mom practically 24/7. Works when he can, but is a local-routes-only truckdriver, and work is very slow right now. Has been taking good care of our mom for over 5 years now.
In July, while Joe, Mom, and I were visiting Dan and his wife Janet in their million dollar home, Janet took me into the nearby city and treated me to a pedicure and fancy haircut 'n' style. She said "Dan and I wanted to thank you for all you do for your mom." I said, "Well, thank you! That's so nice of you!" Meanwhile thinking, "What are you going to do for Joe? He does the lion's share of the work." Well, they did nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
So recently, I got to thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if Dan, Jerry and I paid Joe a little stipend each month to show our appreciation?
Jerry came over for dinner tonight. When he walked outside to get into his car, I said, "I'd like to talk to you about something." He said, "Okay. What's up?" I said, "Joe has been taking care of Mom for over 5 years now. He's there for her 24/7. I think it would be nice if you, Dan and I together paid Joe a little stipend each month to show our appreciation." He started hemming and hawwing and said, "Well, I've got a lot of expenses right now, you know ... the mobile home and all." I pleasantly said, "Okay. Well, just keep it in mind then." He said he would, then got into his new car and drove away.
I WAS FURIOUS. He hadn't even asked how much money I was talking about. He hadn't even asked. He didn't ask, "Well, how much money are we talking about?" No. He just figited and blurted out a lame lie. Then he lied again when he said he'd give my idea some thought. Apparently, he has plenty of money to go golfing 3 times a week, but no money at all to show his appreciation for all the things Joe does for his own mother.
So ... I have two brothers who are A-holes, and one brother who has a heart of gold.
Guess whose graves I'm going to dance on when they die.