Zero Sum Game

Apparently my good luck this last month is balanced by truly craptastic luck on the part of my sister, LOS. LOS's eldest son, Sven the Viking has shown his Nordic heritage, and not in a good way. Stereotypical, but common enough that the stereotype scares those of us who like a nice glass of wine or pint of beer or shot of Aqvavit or Vodka or whatever. Sven is in a rehab center for alcoholism, following managing to get his girlfriend (who we all like and think deserves better at this point) pregnant, get evicted from his apartment (after spending all his girlfriend's rent money on booze and possible other, worse -- more totally illegal -- items, and go on a bender losing him his last two jobs on bad terms with employers who had hitherto been rather fond of him.

The one bright spot in this extravaganza of bad news is that LOS and her husband, who has recovered from alcohol problems of his own, don't have to spend a dime for the rehab. Amazinglyu enough, in the disaster that is uninsured health care in the US, Sven, by moving to another state and establishing and independent domicile, got himself to a point where hospitalization for addiction will not bankrupt my hardworking and VERY tired (she's exhausted) sister and her husband.*

But my sister and her husband have had the unenviable experience of checking their uninsured and incoherent son (willing, but not functional) into rehab. Not an experience any parent wants to contemplate, much less experience.

Needless to say, LOS is winging her way down, for the last time (the place is on the market) to a Florida beach with FoilMormor right now. They'll float in the ocean, and FoilMormor will empathize, share her experiences of checking kids (NSLOS) into hospitals, and how she survived. Normally I boast about my great genetic gifts to my kids: they're tall, they're good looking, they're smart. But I also worry and wonder: my kids have mental illness on both maternal and paternal sides, and some pretty strong alcoholism/other addiction genes on my side from both my mother and father's line.

I don't sense any frailties in either TG or DG, but I do worry a smidge. Sometimes these things just come along and smack you just for the pleasure of it. I know that alcoholism, mental illness, and drug addiction aren't sentient beings, but it someitmes feels as if they are, and they are imaginary beings I imagine as miy enemies, and those of my sister as well.

LOS did not ask for anything when I asked what I could do, but I do think my trip to New England this summer will be by the new Toaster, and will involve a long weekend at LOS's place (I'll save to pay for a hotel, and will not put her to more work) with a little pampering thrown in.

Just a few days ago I was thinking about how good life can be after a bad turn. I hope LOS feels that way a year or two from now.

*Innana, I know you read this. No-one else who knows LOS does. So imagine this post is about someone else. Thanks. LOS deserves the illusion of privacy about this one, and, as always, I trust your good manners and discretion.